^ I agree. And considering the dominance of Live Nation, pretty soon if you can't deliver the goods live, you won't be staying around.

My point exactly.

If you mean U.S., "Music", "Don't Tell Me", and "Die Another Day" were also huge singles. "4 Minutes" seems like her biggest due to it being released during the digital era, but the other singles had better radio success and single sales.

As for live performances being the future....I think the opposite. With a lot of the newer artists not being able bodied performers, performance won't matter. TV ratings for award shows are becoming less as well. The future of music is simply music. Digital, especially.

Now if you were to say tours, then I would somewhat agree. Tours will become an even more important part of the industry than it currently is. Album sales will officially become irrelevant, and it will be about tour numbers.

Well yeah, when I say live performances I mean tours. I know it doesn't sound like I do, but that's what I meant. Live tours. Lol.

Ohh and as far as "TV ratings for award shows are becoming less," then why did the Grammy's rake in 25.8 million viewers? It was the highest viewed Grammy telecast in the past six years....

Not to mention even the Golden Globes were up 14% this year in ratings. I know that's not music related...but TV award shows are on the rise..at least for this year.

Just like every other show, they get a lucky year to take advantage of heavy promotion. 2009 was a big year in music. GaGa, Beyonce, Michael's death, BEP.. so the Grammys could take advantage of this and market greatly. That's why it's the highest in six years, not just a spike from last year.

Same happen with VMAs. Ratings declined yearly from 2003 on..but 2007 Britney performs? Well she was only the crackhead of the year so people tuned in, and viola highest ratings in years.

I don't believe the formula will always work. And like I already said, with more new artists out who don't really have performance stamina, ratings will decline sharply over the years. With the usual spike of course..

Well movies/shows, I think, will always be notable. It's our natural entertainment. Music, however, is everywhere now. Internet, our handheld devices, etc.

Oh well, agree to disagree.

Imo tours > albums now, i think i would rather have a succesful tour than a succesful album.

Same for me. I can have an amazing album and see an amazing show.

I do agree with Aliens & Bla bla. He has the point, now only live concerts sell, albums don't sell.

For exemple Madonna and Britney sold both 3Million+ with their last album but their tours did impressive, they both made more many than any female artist out there.

Aw! This is FAKE. Nooo!

Love it.

I know right