Does the emergence of the digital download signal the end for the music industry?

From 1999-2001 the RIAA estimates that 803 million CDs were sold and 2.1 billion CD’s were downloaded for free, ‘Lessig points out that if each download was equivalent to one lost sale, we would be witnessing a 100% drop in sales, not a 7% drop’ The statistics don’t add up.

Record companies promote songs as a commercial item and concentrate on selling the music as a commodity ‘not a piece of the soul of an artist’, Condry concluded that in situations where the connection between fans and artists is viewed as more direct the fans will buy the music, for example Radiohead released In Rainbows and customers could order for whatever price they saw fit, the album went to number 1 and a spokesperson for the band reported that most people paid the normal retail price. If the the fans feel part of a ‘shared community supporting music that people care about’ (Cultures of music piracy, Ian Condry) it is likely they will still pay for the music, even if it is available for free. Digital downloads will not eradicate the music industry, but perhaps make a slight dent.