Argument proposal

My Position

Does technology benefit the music industry? Can music survive file transfer websites? Will hard-core analog listeners switch to digital formats? What formats will become mainstream in the future? Who is the music industry targeting to increase slumping sales? Does music offer health benefits through music therapy? These questions are the current important issues that the music industry faces today.

Let's face it, a large percentage of the Baby Boomers have never made the computer transformation. Due to that fact, there will always be a market for store-bought music. Most baby boomers prefer to go the store and simply buy music. Because of technology, music listeners are given choices a on buying and listening to music. Most boomers grew up with television and have updated their home entertainment systems to watch DVDs. Most of these home entertainment systems are 5.1 surround sound compatible. This is a major marketing opportunity for the music industry and the bands themselves. Market old music in a new and improved format will entice boomers to rebuy thier favorite music again. It is like you are hearing it for the first time again. Baby boomers are 78 million strong in the United States and have major buying power. The music industry, for their survival, must target this age group. This is a prime example of how technology serves as a useful tool for music sales. On the other hand, major record companies might be a bit hesitant to focus on boomers and 5.1 surround sound as a savior. There are no guarantees by simply enhancing the sound of their old favorite songs will make the boomers run to the store with their wallets open. The record companies and the bands themselves have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Marketing this may be costly and a major gamble for the music industry, but they need to do something to stimulate business do to slumping sales.

Another big question is the issue of MP3 downloading off the Internet. Can store-bought formats coexist with MP3 file sharing websites? There is plenty of room for both. MP3 downloading is geared for younger, more computer literate music listeners. This is the format that young people grew up on, making them more comfortable using this format. Radiohead is cutting out the record companies by simply making their music available on their website. Radiohead's last album was only available through their website. Contributions were excepted but not mandatory. This is a great promotional tool but how about the consumer without a computer? There is room for both options, by giving the consumers the option of buying at the store or from the website is good for business. Having more options for the consumer can only stimulate business and create competition, which will keep costs down.

The issue of analog sounding better than digital still prevalent, but doesn't help or hurt the music industry. The record companies have responded to the hard-core vinyl listeners by releasing more albums on vinyl. Turntables and vinyl lp's sales have skyrocketed in the last few years. The artists themselves have retreated back to vinyl as a format option. Basically, the major problem with digital recordings are that they only sample analog sounds and don't present the full spectrum of sound that analog offers. Both analog and digital are here to stay, regardless of which one sounds better.