Album sales number

[Blue]

The problem with the internet is that it severly hurts record sales. Back in the day, if you liked Interstate Love Song and you wanted to listen to it in crisp, high quality any time you wanted; you had to buy the whole album. Nowadays, if you want to listen to Interstate Love Song anytime in crisp, high quality you can buy the single for $0.99

Singles have become the opposite of what they used to be. Back in the day they were the released to drum up album sales. Now records are basically nothing more than an excuse to release singles on iTunes.

[Rocketboy]

The internet has saved me so much money over the last 10 years or so.
I used to buy an album blind and, more often than not, regret it.
Ever since I got a high speed connection (and those early Napster days) if there's something I'm considering buying I will download the album first and give it a listen or two. If I like it, I go out and buy it. If it sucks, I delete it.
I've never really used the internet for downloading albums instead of purchasing them. I mainly download stuff that can't be purchased anymore (out of print) or at all (like live stuff).

[loungefly611]

I'll buy a CD from a band that I REALLY REALLY want, like when the next STP album comes out. If there is an album that I am remotely interested in but I don't want to clutter space on the CD shelf, then I'll buy the digital copy and download it. I think the days of diamond album sales are long gone.

Emusic.com is a great website that has idependant releases, as well as some major label artists for a decent price. (Like Pearl Jam, Bush, Alice In Chains, Aerosmith, The Clash, to name a few) When I joined, it was $20 a month for 75 single track downloads. Now, I think you get 50-55 for $20, and it's now $30 for 75. I loved it because I downloaded a TON of albums that I normally wouldn't have bought, from indie artists like My Morning Jacket and Okkervill River, to metal bands like Iced Earth, Nevermore, Opeth, etc. I would recommend to check it out. They have a HUGE variety, not just rock and pop, but jazz, world music, techno, etc.

[IMJ]

I'll buy a CD from a band that I REALLY REALLY want, like when the next STP album comes out. If there is an album that I am remotely interested in but I don't want to clutter space on the CD shelf, then I'll buy the digital copy and download it. I think the days of diamond album sales are long gone.

Agreed on all points.  I bought the new AIC disc to support that one even though I had a digital copy of it days before it's initial release. If I'm loyal to a band, I'll buy the actual disc, otherwise most other stuff nowadays comes from the hard drive in some form or another.

[nomis]

Am I just one of the old fashioned guys that still loves to hold a CD and all its lovely packaging in my hand ?

[IMJ]

Am I just one of the old fashioned guys that still loves to hold a CD and all its lovely packaging in my hand ?

No, not the only one. I'm a CD guy too, although more and more I'd like to do a complete digital conversion of my collection. Just the other day I was sorting CDs, and while it was fun to go through my hundred or so STP discs, it was also a tremendous pain in the ass.  I realized that I've got to rebuy the entire catalogue, which sucks because that means I've been playing my import discs which are very hard to replace if you need to from use.