news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8012160.stm

15 % drop in CD sales and 31% drop in USA CD Sales.

Proof that the recession has smashed music to pieces Worldwide.

The only growth area was TV and RIGHTS. Which saw a 24% rise is revenue.

This shows that the Big Labels are strengthening their position as music providers and that CD sales are in a massive decline.

The purchase of music stopped when anything you want became available free.
And it will never return.
So intelligent investors now look for return in other, linked areas.

Stoopids think that means only tours, "real" artistes - the same philosophy that created "albums" - collections of crap with one decent hit on them.

The best, most popular and catchiest hits are one offs.

How to turn them into money makers is the trick.

Now that is true - someone should write a book and make it available on the net with some ideas of how to do that. At present I dont see any idea except throw a shedload of money at an act and make sure they clog up the airwaves until people buy it out of sympathy ( U2 being a classic example - Duffy - Amy - etc )