Digital track sales this past week totaled 19.9 million downloads, down 4% compared with last week (20.6 million) and down 10% stacked next to the comparable week of 2012 (22 million). Year-to-date track sales are at 1.1 billion, down 4% compared with the same total at this point last year (1.2 billion).
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It looks like singles download (digital track sales) have peaked.
This year has been boring, as there was virtually no females in music until August which could probably explain the 4% fall.
I still think we have a few years left now, before it's officially peaked. Physical Sales didn't just rise every year, then suddenly drop. They probably also had a few years or so with 1-5% drops, they recovered the following years.
Digital track sales this past week totaled 19.9 million downloads, down 4% compared with last week (20.6 million) and down 10% stacked next to the comparable week of 2012 (22 million). Year-to-date track sales are at 1.1 billion, down 4% compared with the same total at this point last year (1.2 billion).
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It looks like singles download (digital track sales) have peaked.
I understand streaming is the future, but how are artist possible going to generate as much revenue from it? Streaming is a platform that needs a major amount of work done.
In the long run, streams should be more profitable for material that stands the test of time, although it's hard to tell by how much. Honestly, with the amount of ads YouTube, VEVO, and other streaming sites put up nowadays, they should be paying artists/labels more for it.
Eh. I still think 2013 was just never going to stand a chance year-on-year with the consecutive 1-2-3 punch (and longevity) of Gotye, Carly and fun. We've had Robin and Macklemore, but at separate times and neither really maintained after their power runs.
2012 had stronger hits to fall back on outside the big winners (Starships, WMYB, Some Nights, Stronger, Gangnam Style). Also songs like "I Love It", "Don't You Worry Child", "Feel This Moment", etc. have nothing on the legs of "Wild Ones"/"Whistle", "Glad You Came", "Lights", etc.
2014 could see a shift back positive if the hits are there.
A few massive hits like Gotye, etc. aren't going to be enough to cause an increase in sales year-on-year. Even if we get massive sellers like that next year, I'm sure 2014's total sales will be lower than 2013's.
We're currently 100 million sales behind 2012, so even if we had another massive hit that sold 5 million this year, it wouldn't have changed anything.
In the long run, streams should be more profitable for material that stands the test of time, although it's hard to tell by how much. Honestly, with the amount of ads YouTube, VEVO, and other streaming sites put up nowadays, they should be paying artists/labels more for it.
Music needs that front ended revenue to encourage artists to release new music.
I really do think that unless something changes streaming could destroy much about what I love about the music industry. The way I see things going has 2-3 giant labels with only a handful of artists each who all make tons of money while everyone else is left out to dry.
