MacMegasite – US downloads beat CD sales

Legitimate download sites, such as Apple’s iTunes, the newly relaunched Napster and Musicmatch, are the most popular. They are trying to tempt fans from unauthorised free download services like Kazaa and Morpheus, which have been blamed by the music industry for falling CD sales.

This proves my theory that the music industry is suffering from their own arrogance and lack of compelling products rather than widespread piracy. Given the chance, people will download music legally if the price is right rather than stealing music. People aren’t going to go to a music store and pay almost $20 for a CD with one good song on it. Before legal downloads were widespread, people were stealing music because there was no other legal alternative.

Just think what they could do if they gave access to a broader and deeper range of music without digital rights management built in. Trusting your customers, amamzing concept.