Old rockers prop up ailing industry as young fans raid the internet
By Peter Gotting and agencies
January 8 2003
Young music fans are finding it too much trouble to get down to the record store - let alone out to a live concert, dismal sales figures from the music industry show.
CD sales fell by more than 10 per cent in the United States last year - and about 6 per cent in Australia - as internet users continued to swap songs free of charge.
Concert sales were also down - except among baby boomers who thought nothing of paying a lot to see classic acts. Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones and Cher were the top three US tours last year, while Australians flocked to John Farnham (ticket sales for last year's tour took in about $23 million) and to the Long Way to the Top tour, featuring oldies such as Col Joye and Billy Thorpe. Fewer international acts visited because of the high ticket prices brought about by the low value of the Australian dollar.
CD sales slid by almost 11 per cent in the US last year, according to Nielsen Soundscan, which compiles CD charts in the US. Album sales in the US fell from 763 million in 2001 to 681 million last year, a drop of 10.7 per cent.
The Australian Record Industry Association will release its 2002 sales figures this month - but half-year figures show a drop of 6 per cent.
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Australian CD sales fell to 18.5 million for the first half of 2002, compared with 19.2 million in the first half of 2001.
The recording industry believes the slumping world economy has been a factor, but it lays most of the blame on illegal downloading of music from the internet.
Local promoters hope demand for old-style acts will continue this year with tours by the Stones, Bob Dylan, Cliff Richard, Ray Charles and a new Long Way to the Top line-up.
"Ninety per cent of the acts are baby-boomer acts," said promoter Michael Chugg. "There's a lot of older acts coming out this summer."
With the low dollar, the music industry has struggled to afford tours from big-name foreign artists. While a number of US acts are visiting over the next few months, "I don't know that anyone's making any money from it," Mr Chugg said.
There were a significant number of small- and large-scale tours but not much in the middle, Mr Chugg said. Soaring ticket prices were also to blame. Kylie Minogue's concerts last year were priced at $85 to $140, compared with $65 the year before. John Farnham's Last Time concert cost about $100 for premium tickets.
By Peter Gotting and agencies
January 8 2003
Young music fans are finding it too much trouble to get down to the record store - let alone out to a live concert, dismal sales figures from the music industry show.
CD sales fell by more than 10 per cent in the United States last year - and about 6 per cent in Australia - as internet users continued to swap songs free of charge.
Concert sales were also down - except among baby boomers who thought nothing of paying a lot to see classic acts. Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones and Cher were the top three US tours last year, while Australians flocked to John Farnham (ticket sales for last year's tour took in about $23 million) and to the Long Way to the Top tour, featuring oldies such as Col Joye and Billy Thorpe. Fewer international acts visited because of the high ticket prices brought about by the low value of the Australian dollar.
CD sales slid by almost 11 per cent in the US last year, according to Nielsen Soundscan, which compiles CD charts in the US. Album sales in the US fell from 763 million in 2001 to 681 million last year, a drop of 10.7 per cent.
The Australian Record Industry Association will release its 2002 sales figures this month - but half-year figures show a drop of 6 per cent.
advertisement
advertisement
Australian CD sales fell to 18.5 million for the first half of 2002, compared with 19.2 million in the first half of 2001.
The recording industry believes the slumping world economy has been a factor, but it lays most of the blame on illegal downloading of music from the internet.
Local promoters hope demand for old-style acts will continue this year with tours by the Stones, Bob Dylan, Cliff Richard, Ray Charles and a new Long Way to the Top line-up.
"Ninety per cent of the acts are baby-boomer acts," said promoter Michael Chugg. "There's a lot of older acts coming out this summer."
With the low dollar, the music industry has struggled to afford tours from big-name foreign artists. While a number of US acts are visiting over the next few months, "I don't know that anyone's making any money from it," Mr Chugg said.
There were a significant number of small- and large-scale tours but not much in the middle, Mr Chugg said. Soaring ticket prices were also to blame. Kylie Minogue's concerts last year were priced at $85 to $140, compared with $65 the year before. John Farnham's Last Time concert cost about $100 for premium tickets.
