October CD Sales Down As Economy Struggles With Recession

Despite the release of AC/DC's Black Ice, CD sales in October 2008 slumped mightily when compared with the sales from October 2007. On a whole, sales were down 19.4% from last year. While last October produced a more noteworthy list of releases — including Bruce Springsteen's Magic, the Eagles' Long Road Out of Eden, Britney Spears' Blackout and Carrie Underwood's Carnival Ride— this October was no slouch either, with Black Ice and the sustained sales of September releases like T.I.'s Paper Trail and Metallica's Death Magnetic. Comparing September 2008 to September 2007 finds another 20.4% decline. The decline is indicative of what's already going on in the music industry, plus the added influence of an overall economic recession. CD sales were only down 12.7% for the year leading up to the last two months, so the fall of the stock market goes hand in hand with the CD market. November looks somewhat more promising, however, with big ticket releases from Guns N' Roses, Kanye West, David Cook, Beyonce, the Killers and Nickelback.

Related Stories:
• Are Retail Exclusives For AC/DC, Eagles, Guns N' Roses Good Business?
• The Future of Digital Album Sales: Inside the Launch of MySpace Music
• Apple Threatens to Shut Down iTunes If Royalty Rate Rises

• 
  MUSIC 100 Greatest Debut Albums
• 
  MOVIES 'Star Trek' Is Crazy Good
• 
  TV 10 Shows to Watch This Summer
• 
  POLITICS No Price Big Banks Can't Fix

Song Stories

“Youth Knows No Pain”

Lykke Li | 2011

“Like on 'Youth Knows No Pain' — we are the ones that should demonstrate, because we can take it,” Likke Li said. “We can pierce ourselves, take Ecstasy, dance all night and still go to work at our McDonald's jobs.” Despite the hedonistic sentiment in the song, the Swedish singer also admitted in hindsight her youth had repercussions. “I remember when I was 18-19 and feeling that I know it all,” Li said. “I always feel that I know it all. But that song is about realizing you don’t, and reflecting, ‘Boy, if I only knew what would follow.’”

More Song Stories entries »

Twitter