Record sales down, but seen as stabilizing

Record shipments declined in 2003, but at a substantially slower rate than the steep slide seen in 2002, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) said Thursday. The value of music shipped to U.S. retail outlets fell by 4.3 percent in 2003, compared with a 6.8 percent drop the previous year. The number of units shipped dropped just 2.7 percent, compared with 7.8 percent in 2002, the group said.

The figures did not include sales though online stores such as Apple Computer's iTunes. Those markets are still very young, and their health will require continued anti-piracy enforcement efforts online, said RIAA CEO Mitch Bainwol in a statement.

[Uncoveror]

Consumer Backlash against RIAA

CD sales are down because of a consumer backlash. The recording industry makes "copy protected" CDs that won't play in a computer, harasses file traders, and continues to raise the price of CDs as production costs go down. We're not going to take it any more! Read more at www.dontbuycds.org

[bearblue]

I have to agree

I haven't recently bought a CD, mostly because of the highly irrational and strategically dumb approach the music industry has taken. To lure the fan in, you don't **** them off.

Ironically, I also don't purchase online music - though I do listen more via online radio. But there's also not been any compelling new sound that I just felt like I had to buy since 9/11. Nothing new or truly good, so nothing purchased.

An Unacceptable approach to consumers

I know the idea of copying a lincense in full and giving it to another person is not right, but the act in which the RIAA is approaching to the consumer market by putting these type of copy ristrictions are unacceptable.

Instead, the RIAA needs to take measures that makes the flowage of the media between CDs, computers, and devices of the media easy on the consumers, give them the flexibility by using the technology, and allow interoperability of the media. Sure, the CSS prevents consumers from making copies, but it can't be played on PCs. But please. It's time for the RIAA to expand it's operations, let the consumers make personal backups (put protection measures that only works on the PC that the CD was copied from), and let them get along with the flexibility with the consumer technology. Why not have consumers put the music on the "special CDs" so that it can be given to a friend while the record labels get money from this? If the RIAA expands it's marketing using copying technology, than the recording industry would have made a lot of money.