Apple's iTunes knows how to move product while the retail music business is remembering the good old days and little else. If you worked for a music station or record label this should interest you. I am one of many who dabbled in both industries and it just amazes me that more product is being sold by an online music store than at all retail outlets not named Wal-Mart. It's called marketing a viable product better than the producer and seller of the product can. The shopping mall is out - iTunes is in. While CD sales nationwide fell 19% in 2007 from the previous year, sales of digital songs jumped 45%, according to Nielsen SoundScan...
While number one retailer Wal-Mart seems to be the only retailer who knows how to sell product, guess what online music store is number two. Correctamundo - Apple's iTunes. Yes, people are still downloading songs on the web illegally but legal downloading now accounts for 10% of music bought in the U.S. NPD Group reports that the number of people buying music legally online jumped 21% to 29 million in 2007 from 24 million in 2006...
You would think that if you're a retailer not named Wal-Mart, you would find out how they do it. You would think that if you're a manufacturer, you would spend more time selling your product more effectively online. Hey, what am I saying? You have to think to do that...
10 Timeline Memories:
- 1883] Stogies on a roll: Oscar Hammerstein I, grandfather of the legendary lyricist, patents the first cigar-rolling machine. In addition to being involved in the theater, Hammerstein founds the U.S. Tobacco Journal and makes a fortune selling cigars...
- 1922] Susan B. Anthony to the rescue: The U.S. Supreme Court upholds the 19th amendment, guaranteeing women the right to vote: http://youtube.com/watch?v=CtDPZudU0ek&feature=related ...
- 1949] L'chaim: Chaim Weizmann becomes the first Israeli President. Break out the Manischewitz and challah...
- 1974] People who need People: People Magazine hits the newsstands for the first time...
- 1982] Guilty as charged: Wayne B. Williams is found guilty of murdering 2 of the 28 bodies found in the Atlanta area in a two-year period...1990] The Exxon Corp. and Exxon Shipping are indicted on 5 criminal counts in reference to the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill...
- 1988] Olympic gold: East Germany's Katarina Witt becomes the first repeat winner of an Olympic gold medal in figure skating since Sonja Henie won 3 straight in the 30's. Later that year she'll win her 4th title in 5 years at the World Figure Skating Championships. Here's Katarina: http://youtube.com/watch?v=k-rMfIyX4rM ...
- 1991] I feel good: James Brown is paroled from prison after serving 2 years of a 6-year term for leading police on an interstate car chase...
- 1991] Liberation day: President George Bush (41) announces that 'Kuwait is liberated' on live TV...
- 1992] Miniature golfer: 16-year old amateur golfer Tiger Woods becomes the youngest player to compete in a PGA Tour event (The Nissan L.A. Open) and posts a one-over-par 72, just barely missing the cut...
- 2003] 'Happy Trails': Fred Rogers a.k.a. 'Mister Rogers' leaves our neighborhood, a victim of stomach cancer at 74. He's missed to this day: http://youtube.com/watch?v=UcvRMHz4mb4 ...
Music Memories:
- 1956] Released on this date: "Slippin' and Slidin' - Little Richard: http://youtube.com/watch?v=Iy0m5YP5pXQ ...
- 1980] Grammy Gold: "What A Fool Believes" - Doobie Brothers http://youtube.com/watch?v=wYzZHV13HPE ...2002] Alicia Keys wins 5 Grammy's for her debut LP, "Songs in A Minor". Not only can this girl sing but watch her piano playing: http://youtube.com/watch?v=6T7H6wpewQM ...
- 2000] Fun, fun, fun: ABC-TV airs "The Beach Boys" made-for-TV movie. Murray Wilson spins like a lathe...
Commentary:
I haven't seen the overnight figures for the presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama but should there be a bit of burnout, it wouldn't surprise me. This was the pair's 20th debate. What more can either candidate add that they haven't already covered? In the words of the immortal Archie Bunker, "it's time to stifle it"...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Josh Groban (27), Chelsea Clinton (28), Howard Hesseman (68), Ralph ("I'm running") Nader (74), Elizabeth Taylor (76), Joanne Woodward (78) and Ariel Sharon (80)...
Timeline Countdown: 11 days until Daylight time, 23 days until the first day of spring and 28 days until opening day...
