Posted 2:20 PM by Dave Allen
Brad,

As a musician on the list I have to say that I totally disagree with the
contention that digital piracy is the main cause for lower sales. I would
suggest that the labels have lost touch with their customers and that retail
stores don't work as a destination (I include the Megastores in this
equation). The industry has managed to disenfranchise at least two
generations of new cd buyers and kids these days who do buy cds turn around
and burn multiple copies for their buddies.
The music industry is still looking in the wrong direction. Meanwhile the
Internet offers huge potential for artists to do things their own way. It
offered the same potential to the labels too but they appear to be fighting
it rather than embracing it. As Jim Griffin has often pointed out on the
list, the customer is always right, and the customer is obviously voting
with her feet.

Dave