Is the single dead in the Australian music industry? Judging by current sales figures across Australia, it would appear the answer is a resounding "Yes".
The Australian chart reached an all-time low this week when the number 100 single by M.C. Lars registered just 47 sales nationally. Ironically, Lars song is titled 'Download This Song'.Singles sales have dropped right off in 2006 even when compared to a year ago.
The blow to the troubled music industry comes just a week after major chain Sanity announced it would no longer carry singles.
It has never been so easy to score a Top 40 hit in Australia when the only sales are considered.
The McClymonts 'Something That My Heart Does' is at No. 40 with registered sales from chart stores of just 354 units.
Only one song, the number one song by Sandi Thom, sold more than 5,000 units. By number 5 the figure fell to 3658 and by number 18 sales were registering less than 1000 units.
Every song past number 80 sold less than 100 units in chart stores nationally.
Album sales luckily are remaining stable. The top two albums (by Scissor Sisters and Pink) both sold more than 10,000 units. By number 10, album sales fall to around 3200 units. By No. 40, the figure falls to around 1500 and number 100 this week by Hillsong Church sold 506 units.
