The latest news in the industry is the booming online music market and dropping CD sales are eating into the global music market. Reports of digital music sales have tripled in the last year to 6% of the industry revenues. CD sales dropped 3.4%, but overall revenue from CDs was down 6.7% because of falling CD prices. Today's music consumers are purchasing a single or a few tracks from a CD, rather than purchase the CD. In addition, illegal downloading and cd burning are a major factor in declining sales.

With the internet leading the way consumers are buying, stealing or listening to music, two of the biggest names in music and cell phones have come together to revolutionize the radio listening experience. Motorola Inc. is teaming up with various major labels making available their catalogs available on the forthcoming Motorola iRadio service. The service will offer hundreds of channels of commercial-free music and talk stations. It will also empower consumers to create their very own channels from their personal music collection. The service uses a high-speed Internet connection, Bluetooth technology, and a mobile phone to offer listeners a continuous entertainment experience that moves from the living room, to the car stereo, to anywhere a consumer brings their mobile phone.

Whoa! The music industry is daily advancing towards the Star Trek era. However, one of the biggest problem facing the industry is the P2P sites that allow free downloading of music. The advancements made with music and the internet is all-good, however until illegal downloading is stop, everyone whom makes their living from music will suffer.

We like to hear from the readership on their ideals on how to combat illegal downloading. Or, viewpoints on the new trends of music and technology. Reply to surenyrecordpool@aol.com

Until the next issue, keep your head up and enjoy all the blessing from the Creator. Peace, B.E.D.