Well that's it then...Digital music is now in the lead

The article is a badly rehashed press release.

It says more about the Guardian's continuing lack of journalism than the facts.

The spend on digital downloads is increasing - because there is more availability. The spend on physical media (CDs, LPs etc) may be decreasing - but that could be because they are now cheaper.

And how you can quantify spend on music in a quarter when factoring in services such as Spotify beggars belief. What does it mean? People who signed up for the service and paid a premium for higher bit-rate? Or just nothing.

Also, where are the figures coming from? Do Apple, Amazon, Tesco etc release their download figures to the BPI to suit the body's quarter? (Answer: No.)

Very lazy journalism. And a very lazy press release.

Why does the link go to f^%$ing Facebook?

Because, for reasons that are beyond me, it's taking over the world.

They have to keep that share price down. (Sorry, I meant up.)

Excellent point Jon. I've had this argument with any number of people over the years that poor journalism leads to ill-informed discussion. The technique of using press releases as copy (known as "churnalism") is responsible for so many out of wack beliefs that it is not funny. What I always find interesting is that with a few strokes of the keyboard, a fuller picture or indeed contrary information can be found, but then Control C/Control V is so much easier...

In this instance I would bet that the journo did not attempt to find out who the BPI represents, where the sales figures came from, and so on. Did you know that Rough Trade isn't a member of the BPI for example?Nor would I mind betting are any number of on-line only retailers

Mind you, when it comes to the Americans and us Australians, the amount of crap spewed out by the industry and mindlessly repeated by the press is actually much worse...

regards,

Giles

most downloads are mp3 still no masses of flac or even wav in uk

I agree, selective journalism can lead to incorrect conclusions.

I found for example for May 2012, in the the US album  sales up 3%, first time since 2004.

CD album sales at around 226million but down 6% year on year. Download alums at around just under half that at around 103 million, with a 20% rise.

Increase in volume attributed to certain key albums and rising popularity of downloads as well as idiscounting older albums on itunes etc.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...r-f_0_n_1185830.html

And today the BBC carries the BPI story, but the BPI measure is revenue not album numbers. Albums still dominate over downloads, it just that CDs are cheaper than download albums. Demand for CD in the UK remains strong.. according to the story.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-18278037

Simon

Just to labour the point: It would be nice to know how the BPI is collating its figures.

They say this is UK spend. Would that include CDs bought through Amazon and shipped via Jersey?

And Giles, I didn't know Rough Trade wasn't a member of the BPI. Very good point.

The more you look at the original article, the more obvious it becomes that it's a cut and paste job.

It's a real shame that too many journalists do not spend the time to do what they went into the profession in the first place to do: ie: Question Everything You're Told.

Still, nice to see there's people on this forum who feel the same way.

Well thats a relief then

I was worried that I was falling behind the times 

That explains why I can't buy cassettes at Woolworth's any more - I must keep up with these modern trends .... 

What is the big deal about CD - whether the music is delivered in a file on on a silver disc or a USB stick it is all the same - assuming 44.1/16 bit. If you have a CDP then you can burn to CD to play them. 

To me a 24 bit recording generally sounds better than CD (irrespective of the CDP) and rivals cassette/vinyl, but we don't have enough of them, which is the bigger shame. We went the one step backwards, now is time for the two steps forward ....

Do we still need journalists when we have social networks and twitter?  

I think you're somewhat behind the times. Good journalism is merely a matter of copying the press release without formatting, typographical or spelling errors. Nice work if you can get it. Like estate agents who claim to sell houses. Strangest use of the word "sell" I've ever seen. Which I suppose puts me behind the times as well.

i am probably way behind you guys. i have now managed to rip almost all my CDs. only last week i thought to myself, well, i can now take them to the loft which would free up some valuable space in my office.

but for some odd reason, i just couldn't bring myself to do it.

That's what i call really ancient... :-)

enjoy

ken

Nope Harry.

Good journalsim is looking beyond press releases, trying to ascertain the facts and always questioning. Unfortunately, that costs money. Which is why it's in short supply. But it's still worthwhile.

I can count on the number of 20 hands the people I know who have gone into PR because it's easier and pays more. I can also number four people who through being good journalists have made a difference. They are the people I respect.

or Fox News!!!