Record labels are struggling with piracy from consumers and direct marketing by artists. Radiohead, for example, offered its last album, "In Rainbows," as a direct download before putting it out on CD.
But former music producer and self-described artists' rights advocate Moses Avalon said the music business -- and music in general -- isn't doing as badly as some observers say.
"I don't think the music industry is doing badly. I know that's the common thought. It's doing badly from the point of view from people who went from making tens of millions a year to now making a few million a year, and for them it probably feels like a financial Armageddon," he told CNN.
"But for the vast majority of recording artists, managers and producers who are people who make a decent living just like anyone else, just like any other professional -- to them, things are pretty much as they've been."
Avalon said sales are down only in the short term. In the long term, the music business has continued to grow, he said.
"One has to remember also that when people say sales are down -- sales are down compared to what? Compared to the year 2004? Yeah. Sales are down compared to the year 2004," he said. "But sales are up compared to the year 1991. So what are we talking about? We're talking about trends -- ebbs and flows of business, which are natural to all businesses."
Besides, he added, there's always a desire for music. It's just the form that it takes -- shellac 78s, vinyl LPs, CDs, Internet downloads, audio blasts through sites like Last.fm or MySpace -- that always changes.
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"People always buy music no matter what. It can even be argued that economic hardship increases the need for music and entertainment," he said.
The new reality of the music business is simple. There is no buisness model! It's all about branding and content.
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