Artists embrace download trend
Eddie Gonzalez
Issue date: 4/16/09 Section: Opinion
In 2005, 50 Cent's sophomore album "The Massacre" sold 9.8 million records, according to SoundScan, and still wasn't the highest selling album of the year, back in a time when downloading was something reserved to the internet savvy and bootleggers.
In the current climate "The Carter III" was the highest selling album of 2008 with only 2.8 million copies sold according to Billboard, and was hailed as a huge success and launched Lil Wayne into superstardom.
The industry wide decrease in sales in the music industry is largely because of rampant online downloading.
Success is measured differently now that downloading is easier than ever, with websites like Albumhunt.com dedicated to allowing users to download entire albums, often before the album is released in stores.
A simple Google search of the title of your favorite song plus the word "download" at the end will likely result in numerous download links for the song to choose from.
Sure the economy has some effect on album sales, but labels try to counter thinner pockets with lower prices for cd's. In 2005, it was commonplace to see $16 or $20 albums on their release date, in '08 "The Carter III" was released for $9.99 at Target stores nationwide on its release date.
Some artist, such as Lil Wayne, have tried to capitalize on the widespread downloading by releasing various material online for free or doing extra promotion online that those who download are likely to see. Some of Wayne's best material was released as a free internet download called "Da Drought 3," and is one of the biggest causes of his recent rise in poplarity. Wayne even said himself on the mixtape "I hope you got it for free, no charge."
Alternative rock band Radiohead released an album, "Rainbows," online in 2007 as a digital download for their fans, which they allowed the fans to pay any price they wish. Even after the digital release in October the band released the album physically in December and sold over 120,000 copies and was number one on the Billboard sales charts after its first week of official release, according to Billboard. The album continues to be a success for Radiohead in 2009 when they won a Grammy award for Best Alternative Rock Album for "Rainbows."
What Wayne and Radiohead have showed artist is a blueprint of how to succeed even with the rampant downloading. Both artist embraced the downloading and offered their fans something to download, and also backed it up with quality music when they did finally release albums in stores.
While platinum selling records have become rare, artist can still make money and capitalize off the downloading by doing concerts and tours, now that it is apparent that the music is more widespread due to the internet.
The fact that more people are going to hear the artist's work is a blessing in disguise; because the downloading is free it will reach more households. Even though most people who download likely won't make the trip to the record stores on those faithful Tuesdays, more people will be introduced to the music and turned into fans.
In the current climate "The Carter III" was the highest selling album of 2008 with only 2.8 million copies sold according to Billboard, and was hailed as a huge success and launched Lil Wayne into superstardom.
The industry wide decrease in sales in the music industry is largely because of rampant online downloading.
Success is measured differently now that downloading is easier than ever, with websites like Albumhunt.com dedicated to allowing users to download entire albums, often before the album is released in stores.
A simple Google search of the title of your favorite song plus the word "download" at the end will likely result in numerous download links for the song to choose from.
Sure the economy has some effect on album sales, but labels try to counter thinner pockets with lower prices for cd's. In 2005, it was commonplace to see $16 or $20 albums on their release date, in '08 "The Carter III" was released for $9.99 at Target stores nationwide on its release date.
Some artist, such as Lil Wayne, have tried to capitalize on the widespread downloading by releasing various material online for free or doing extra promotion online that those who download are likely to see. Some of Wayne's best material was released as a free internet download called "Da Drought 3," and is one of the biggest causes of his recent rise in poplarity. Wayne even said himself on the mixtape "I hope you got it for free, no charge."
Alternative rock band Radiohead released an album, "Rainbows," online in 2007 as a digital download for their fans, which they allowed the fans to pay any price they wish. Even after the digital release in October the band released the album physically in December and sold over 120,000 copies and was number one on the Billboard sales charts after its first week of official release, according to Billboard. The album continues to be a success for Radiohead in 2009 when they won a Grammy award for Best Alternative Rock Album for "Rainbows."
What Wayne and Radiohead have showed artist is a blueprint of how to succeed even with the rampant downloading. Both artist embraced the downloading and offered their fans something to download, and also backed it up with quality music when they did finally release albums in stores.
While platinum selling records have become rare, artist can still make money and capitalize off the downloading by doing concerts and tours, now that it is apparent that the music is more widespread due to the internet.
The fact that more people are going to hear the artist's work is a blessing in disguise; because the downloading is free it will reach more households. Even though most people who download likely won't make the trip to the record stores on those faithful Tuesdays, more people will be introduced to the music and turned into fans.
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