It should be noted that the term - records* = any media that music is made on, i.e. cds, vinyl, digital, etc.
Recorded music sales are down some 15% or so from last year at this time. Many former platinum selling (1,000,000m) acts can't even sell in the gold cert range (500k) these days.
Is it because the albums are no good? Is it because they are too expensive?
I suspect it is because of both, and also another factor: people can get the music for free or via bootlegs at very cheap prices.
It is a well known fact that most records are purchased by the female demographic between 13 to 24, so why is there still so-called 'gangsta rap'? Are there real ladies that like that type of language? Is not that style of hip-hop responsible for some of the major drama in the urban areas of America, i.e. violence, drugs, gangs, sexism, etc.?
Or do we take the themes to seriously that the rappers talk about in that style of hp-hop?
Why is the r&b (or soul music) of today is so sterile and void of any real feeling? The music is mostly derived from loops, beatmakers and sound fx, and the vocalists for the most part seem as if they have never heard of Sam Cooke or Donny Hathaway or Otis Redding or Jackie Wilson or Stevie Wonder (all on the male side; and on the female side: Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight or Ruth Brown.
Are Ne-Yo, Trey Songz and Loyd the male examples and Keri Hilson, Ciara and Ashanti the female examples?
Why must all of the r&b that has any hit potential have to be via computers and machines? What happened to real drummers, Bass players, piano players, guitars and horn sections?
There are no Black self-contained groups signed to major record label deals. Why is that? Who decided that Cameo, Lakeside, The Bar-Kays, Midnight Star, ConFunkShun and Earth, Wind and Fire were no longer relevant? All of the afore-mentioned still put on a helluva live show - so they can't bring it in the studio? I say the state of urban music is pitiful and something needs to be done or the artform so adored by many will be a dying breed, sooner than later.
