According to Nielson Soundscan, album sales continued to drop in the first half of 2007 by 15% while digital track sales gained 49%. As compared with previous years the decline in album sales is accelerating from 4% in the first half of 2006 and 10% during the same period in 2005.

We’ve gone full circle. The single is back and it looks like it’s here for good. Single digital track sales allow people to buy only the songs they want, and skip buying 10 track CDs, with song they may not want. While it looks like the music business is healthy, the revenue generated from album sales is declining faster than the increase in revenue from single digital tracks.

In an early post, The 3 track ablum and other heresies I suggested that one way for the recording industry to overcome this decline in 10 track albums might be to produce 3 track digital albums for the consumer. Hopefully, the labels are looking at this or other innovative ideas to overcome it’s woes.

Last month, a panel discussion was held at New York’s Tekserve entitled: “The Future of Music: Panelists Discuss Where the Music industry is Headed”. These panelist agreed with many of the points I’ve addressed on this blog, at conferences and in discussions with music executives.

According to the article, there was a heated discussion on how technology has changed the business from being focused around the recording label superstar to the indy artist. The transfer of power away from the labels and into the hands of the artists has already started. However it was noted that even though it’s now possible for artists to create recordings on their own with a few good mics and a preamp, without the major labels as banks there won’t be any superstarts anymore.

We need to find new ways of showcasing our music and unfortunately although independent artists have this power to record an album and make it available worldwide they just don’t have the means to get it to the public on a large scale. No publicity, promotion or tour = small bucks. These major labels are like banks and without their massive reservoir of dollars for A&R, artist development and such there just won’t be any superstars anymore.

In September, I will be mediating the second in a series of panels on the Future of Music at The Commonwealth Club of California. Not only, will we address the key issues raised in this New York panel, but will take it further and address the issues of copyright and new music revenue streams now being made possible.

Celebrate the nation’s birthday this year with a great collection of music from the US Military bands. Whether you are having a cookout with friends and family, or hosting your own fireworks show, all the music you need to celebrate this year’s 4th of July is in this great collection.

Download “America” (mp3)
from “An Independence Day Celebration”
by US Air Force Heritage of America Blue Aces
Altissimo!

• Buy at eMusic
• Buy at Napster

At long last, it looks like Kimi Raikkonen is back on form. He ran a flawless race beating his teammate Felipe Massa.

As reported in GPUpdate, Kimi said:

“We’ve had a bit of a hard time the past two months but I always expected that and it’s a bit difficult when you don’t get good results so we just worked hard to get the car right,” he added. “We’re still not right where we want to be but definitely a lo happier with the car since the last test.”

The Commonwealth Club radio program of the Future of Music: Digital Rights or Wrongs panel will air this week on NPR. The program will be broadcast locally in the San Francisco bay area on Tuesday, July 3rd, 2007 at 1 pm on KALW-FM, 91.7. It will air at different times across the country.

Click here to listen to this program using the RealOne Player.