I’m thinking of that “bring out your dead” scene in Monty Python and the Holy Grail where the not quite a corpse says “I’m not dead yet”. That's how the media is writing up the death of the CD.
While the certain sectors of the industry are already writing up obituaries for the CD, the fact is that the CD and the Record Store are a long way from dead.The fact is 9 out of 10 albums are still sold in records stores.
The music download market is limp but the media loves giving it an editorial head-job.
Telstra’s BigPond Music was D.O.A. That Destra download business has already disappeared. Around 90% of download sales in Australia are sold via US operated iTunes.
Look at the US market. There is lots of press about record stores closing down but put it in perspective. The ones going were the bloated business models like Virgin Megastores and Tower Records. The indie stores and the small chains are blossoming into boutique businesses, just like your local bottle shop did a decade ago when faced with the Liquorland’s of the world.
LA’s Amoeba or Austin’s Waterloo are thriving.
Back home, stores like Songland, Canberra and Polyester, Melbourne attract a loyal following of customers because they offer service with a sale. The Leading Edge buying group services hundreds of independent stores across Australia. The JB Hi-Fi chain in Australia offers the countries biggest range of catalogue in store, while Sanity appeals to the younger end of the audience.
So how are CD sales really doing? Lets scan the music chart. Only 12% of sales of U2 ‘No Line On The Horizon’ so far have been downloads. 88% of sales of the U2 album have been on CD.
Looking down the top 10 this week the ratio goes like this:
Kelly Clarkson ‘All I Ever Wanted’ 11% download.
Lily Allen ‘Its Not Me, Its You’ 12.5% download
Kings of Leon ‘Only By The Night’ 7.6% download
Taylor Swift ‘Fearless’ 5.9% download
Coldplay ‘Viva La Vida’ 13% download
Natalie Bassingthwaighte ‘1000 Stars’ 5.3% download
Pink ‘Funhouse’ 5.8%
Duffy ‘Rockferry’ 11.9%
Prodigy ‘Invaders Must Die’ 6.8%
Picking number 20: David Hobson ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ 1.1%
25: Jason Mraz ‘We Sing, We Dance, W Steal Things’ 7.1%
30: Jessica Mauboy ‘Been Waiting’ 4.8%
40: Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack 30.6%
50: Juno soundtrack 12.1%
60. Miley Cyrus ‘Breakout’ 2.3%
70: Taylor Swift ‘Taylor Swift’ 11.5%
80. Kylie Minogue ‘Boombox’ 21.8%
90. Bruce Springsteen ‘Greatest Hits’ >1%
100. Billy Joel ‘ Greatest Hits” 2.4%
For albums appearing for the first week last week:
19: Adam Brand ‘Hell Of A Ride’ 4.5%
28: Howling Bells ‘Radio Wars’ 11.3%
65: Watchmen soundtrack 32.6%
78: Madeleine Peyroux ‘Bare Bones’ 10.6%
86: Propagandhi ‘Supporting Caste’ 2.8%
Record Stores in Australia will open their doors for music fans to witness the fun of the in-store experience with Record Store Day Australia on April 18.
JB Hi-Fi, Sanity, Leading Edge stores and lots of independent retailers will host Record Store Day Australia events with artist appearances, signings and special offers on the day.
Details for Record Store Day Australia can be found at www.recordstoreday.com.au
