[NewMusic] Death of the record industry (cont'd.)

[Linda Seltzer]

>
> the american music business/scene/paradigm is indeed going through an
> insane upheaval. the biggest problem is how utterly saturated the field
> of music is.

Given the conditions of the American economy today (25% of jobs last less
than 1 year, stock market crashes in 2000-2002 and again now, crash of the
telecom industry, export of jobs overseas, 9/11, etc.) and given that so
many people have inadequate or a complete lack of health insurance,
Americans do not have the discretionary income they had twn years ago. 
People who thought they had $750,000 in a 401K suddenly had $75K.  Michael
Moore's film was accurate about health costs.  Add student loan debt to
all of this.  Take your average person graduating from high school and
looking for a job rather than going to college, or working and going to
night school.  Such a person probably does not have health insurance and
could be earning less than $10/hr.

Any weakness in sales of music is due to the fact that the average family
does not have discretionary income any more.  Housing, utilities, food,
gasoline and medical care are more than many families can take.

Small businesses of all kinds are being wiped out.  Small business in
music isn't different from any other type of small business.