MUSIC INDUSTRY QUICK NEWS

– According to the BBC, "A new study estimates that the average person spends about £21,000 ($37,172 US) on music during their lifetime.  "The figure includes the amount spent on equipment and concert-going as well as music on CDs and records. Music enthusiasts are likely to spend more than double that, parting with just over £44,000 ($52,751 US) in a lifetime."

–  According to Digital Music News, "Album sales continued to suffer in the US last week, part of a disappointing yearly performance. Pre-recorded CDs dipped another 2.6 percent when compared to the comparable period last year, while also dropping 5.6 percent over the previous week. But the most glaring gap comes from year-to-date sales, which continue to lag by more than 10 percent over similar figures in 2004. Overall, the year-over-year deficit has climbed to nearly 50 million units, a large stock that could be difficult to overcome in less than one quarter. Various international markets are also suffering, though British trade association BPI recently pointed to an 8.9 percent increase in pre-recorded CD sales last quarter."

– From The DigitalMusic Weblog – "This indie label is about as polarized from the oligarchy model as an indie outfit can get. Comfort Stand is a label operated “by musicians, for musicians.” It does not capture any rights from the artist. It does not accept music that seeks to restrict file-sharing privileges. It does not manufacture CDs or any other physical product. It offers its entire catalog for downloading (zipped album or singe tracks) and streaming (Flash or m3u). It presents only music its operators are passionate about. I’ve heard some gorgeous stuff here. Comfort Stand’s motto? “Everybody needs free music.”