Blog 1- Music's Future

The act of illegally downloading music has officially spread throughout the world. According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), 40 billion (billion!) songs were illegally downloaded in 2008 and about 95% of all music downloads in the past 2 years have been illegally downloaded. This is how I see it: As long as people can get away with illegally downloading music, these numbers will continue to grow into the future. The music industry in my opinion is in trouble. Every single person in the music industry will be affected by these illegal download numbers in the future, if they are not already feeling tremendous effects from it right now.



The new talent of music is suffering, and will continue to suffer. This up-and-coming talent are finding it extremely difficult to break into the business and make it big themselves thanks to record companies' revenues declining every year.


Although the actual music industry might suffer, music fans might benefit. Since the music industry does not have as much money as in the past, it is possible that only the elite artists will actually make it. This would result in the actually quality of music improving.

I am not saying that recorded music will disappear altogether. Music is far too popular this to happen. Plus, as the amount of illegally music downloaded rises, the amount of legally downloaded music will increase too. The music industry will never make the money it did in the "pre-illegally downloaded music era," but it will still make money. Recording companies will never again be monopolies of the industry, but recorded music in itself will never completely disappear.

The future of recorded music is without a doubt not as bright as it was just a few years ago, but music will always be around and will always be popular. With music being downloaded illegally it will be harder in my opinion to get a record deal, but with "American Idol" and other music shows present, new talent (elite talent) will be introduced every year to the world. The music industry will never stop making music and recorded music will always be around.