-----Original Message----- From: Andrew Robinson [mailto:andrew@bml.co.uk] Sent: 20 November 2002 14:11 To: klf@mailman.xmission.com Subject: Re: [KLF] [ot] Kopy protection

There is a weird inability to scale back promotion and expenditure with the major labels.

But isn't that because if one label cuts back on promotion and expenditure, then because the other labels are all promoting as much as before, all that happens is that the artists on one label disappear without trace through under-exposure. It's that vicious cycle I mentioned, no one label is strong enough to break the trend.

Another factor is the self-inflicted bad value for money rules on CD singles, where you can only have 3 tracks totaling 20 minutes to qualify as a single (as opposed to 4 and 40 minutes). If the record companies deliberately give us worse value for money, of course sales will fall!

This was pressure from a small number particular artists & labels to change the chart rules because dance singles were being more successful than indie singles. However plenty of record labels are feeling the effect of the resultant drop in sales and to say it's self-inflicted wouldn't be completely true.

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whole load of people out there who still don't have the bandwidth/time/knowledge to download MP3's, so surely the whole percentage fall can't be attributed to people who download this stuff!

Not the whole percentage fall. But a significant portion of it is caused by the availability of bootlegs.

Don't forget the drop in sales is caused by the gradual decline in people who are replacing old vinyl albums with new CDs of the same material. Once we have all repurchased the ones we want, that market collapses.

There are several reasons why album profits as a whole are dropping. The fact that vinyl collections have been replaced is one, bootlegging is another, the internet providing a cheaper place to buy is a small factor. It all bundles in together into what basically is a long-term recession in the music industry. Stuart. --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.404 / Virus Database: 228 - Release Date: 15/10/2002 ______________________________________________________________________ Any views or opinions expressed in this e-mail are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of ENDEMOL UK plc unless specifically stated. This email and the information it contains are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify us immediately and delete the copy you have received from your system. You should not copy it for any purpose, re-transmit it, use it or disclose its contents to any other person. If you suspect the message may have been intercepted or amended please call the sender.