The Digital Evolution: Is it Really Worth It?

It's not surprising that digital track downloads take from traditional album sales. iTunes (est. 2003) allows consumers to sample each song and pick which ones to purchase versus buying an entire album. Instead of bringing in a few dollars in revenue per album, record companies are seeing a few cents per track. But how much is this taking away from the artist and has the digital evolution truly been beneficial? Kid Rock and AC/DC both refused to allow iTunes to distribute their music because they wanted it sold as a whole album. Each act had the third and fourth-best-selling-albums of the year respectively. Everyone listens to albums before they are released via digital downloads and delay consuming the album or never purchase it at all. So is the digital evolution a threat or a mixed-blessing to music and its stakeholders? I would call it a mixed-blessing because while it creates an avenue for music to be heard, it reduces the incentive to purchase music in the traditional way or even buy it at all. In closing, the digital evolution presents a challenge along with stiffer competition because less money is allocated to buying music but it is met with an opportunity to better cater to the desires of music fans (i.e. Kanye putting "Love Lockdown" to stream on his blog for comments and suggestions). Oh and it's worth it, just not in the short-term.