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# Believe It Or Not, The Music Industry Is Growing
- URL: https://www.hypebot.com/believe-it-or-n/
- Published: 2007-10-22T07:01:25.000Z
- Updated: 2007-10-22T07:01:25.000Z
- Description: Chris Anderson has compiled stats showing that, if declines in CD sales are set aside, every other aspect of the music industry is growing. Concerts and merchandise +4% Digital tracks. Continue reading [https://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2007/10/believe-it-or-n.html]
- Author: Bruce Houghton
- Tags: Uncategorized, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-01-21 11:06

Chris Anderson has [compiled](http://www.thelongtail.com/the%5Flong%5Ftail/?ref=hypebot.com) stats showing that, if declines in CD sales are set aside, every other aspect of the music industry is growing.

- Concerts and merchandise [+4%](http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118980966247828081.html?ref=hypebot.com)[![Arrow_up](https://hypebot.typepad.com/hypebot/images/2007/10/22/arrow_up.jpg "Arrow_up")](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/2007/10/22/arrow%5Fup.jpg&ref=hypebot.com)
- Digital tracks [+46](http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSN0646654920071006?pageNumber=2&ref=hypebot.com)%
- Ringtones [+86% last year](http://76.74.24.142/6BC7251F-5E09-5359-8EBD-948C37FB6AE8.pdf?ref=hypebot.com), but single-digit growth this year
- Licensing for commercials, TV shows, movies and games. Warner Music saw licensing [grow $20 million](http://ccbn.10kwizard.com/xml/download.php?repo=tenk&ipage=5091784&format=RTF&ref=hypebot.com) last year.
- Vinyl singles [sales more than doubled in the UK](http://news.cnet.co.uk/digitalmusic/0,39029666,49286038,00.htm?ref=hypebot.com)
- If you include iPods in the music industry, as Anderson argues we should, they are up [31% this year](http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/07/10/01/carisco%5Fprojects%5Fmacs%5Fsales%5Fto%5Ftop%5F12%5Fmillion%5Fin%5F2009.html?ref=hypebot.com)

Only CD’s which with mp3 player sales included make up 25% of the music industry (60% without) were down [18% last year](http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSN0646654920071006?ref=hypebot.com).

I’m not sure I agree with Anderson’s assertion that portable players  
are a part of the music industry. It’s a bit like saying refrigerators  
re part of the farm economy.

But in every other way the message is  
crystal clear. In Music 2.0 and beyond record companies must become music companies to  
survive. New models are emerging. Madonna and Live Nation is but one  
example. Bold innovation is being rewarded. Just look at Radiohead.

The major labels have the resources, but do they have the will? And  
beyond low risk partnerships with the artist what real innovation do we  
see at the indies?