Just wanted to share some predictions and observations: Heres the music numbers for 2014: it was a historic year in many ways: the first year streaming offset sales (digital or physical) and it was the worst sales year since the advent of Nielsen Music in 1991. Compared to 2013, Album sales fell 11.2 percent (257 million units), and the SEA (stream equivalent album) was adjusted from 2,000 streams per album to 1,500 with an average payout of - ¢.05. Yes, that is CENTS. Some 164 BILLION streams were logged. The numbers are so bad, Neilsen is now including Christian music when ranking labels and market share. My forecast: we have not yet hit bottom. I think 2015 will be worse and there will be a corporate rising by artists/managers/labels in the form of PSAs to influence the publics buying habits with appeals something along the lines of support your favorite artists by becoming a paying fan club member and/or paying for streaming services like spotify, etc...I also predict within 24 months very strong lobbying efforts buy the labels, PROs (SEASAC, BMI, ASCAP - or ass-crap as I affectionately call them) to redefine the copyright law and set a statutory rate for streaming royalties. This is me being optimistic thinking that the recording industry will try to get congress to act in 24 months. Otherwise, it may be 2020 before we truly see infrastructure that we can build a future on. What am I doing about it? Making great records, making great music, and damn the torpedoes. I do this because its how I serve. I believe that people still care about the importance of art, and how it illuminates the human condition and speaks to our souls. Now if we can just get everyone to realize that owning a record is worth way more that a $5 Starbucks coffee and it will continue to give enjoyment every time you listen to it, we will have come a long way! Just one passionate mans perspective on the method and (clinically certifiable) madness of why I am a musician.
Posted on: Sat, 24 Jan 2015 05:39:21 +0000