A recent report posted in the LA Times, showed that 47% of teens in 2007 purchased no music CDs at all. The use of online downloads and illegal pirating proved to be among the top favorite methods of acquiring music.

Some people might argue that this decline in CD purchasing is hurting the music industry, but I beg to differ. Although there is a large number of teens who are using P2P or torrent programs to acquire their music, there are still a lot of loyal fans who either go out and buy their CDs or use online services such as Apples iTunes Music Store. The report shows that 47% of teens bought zero CDs. This means, that more than half of teens are still buying CDs, which in my mind, is still a large number, considering all of the alternatives there are to acquiring music.

The decline in physical CD purchasing is somewhat of a good thing. Each CD contains a paper booklet, a plastic case and a metal CD. By reducing the number of these we buy, we’re saving the environment. Now, surly one CD won’t do much to the environment, but when you look at it on a worldwide scale, the number of artists, album and fans, you’re looking at hundreds of thousands -if not millions - of CDs not being put into production, which in the long run, cuts down on pollution. Not only because of the physical material that makes up the CD and it’s package, but the transportation it takes creates air pollution, as well as the air pollution created when consumers take their cars or busses to go buy the CD. So, by purchasing your music online, you’re saving the environment and you can browse through the music in the comforts of your own home!

Music pirates are all around us, and for teenagers, it’s the most popular way of getting music. Pirating has become so popular, that it’s considered normal and okay. The record labels are hit the hardest when music is illegally downloaded. For the actual artists, the loss is a lot less severe because they don’t make all that much money from record sales. Most of their money is made on their live shows and merchandise sales. Which is why artists like Radiohead and Saul Williams were able to pretty much “give away” their albums in a “pay what you think it’s worth” campaign.

I feel that these recent reports of the decline of CD sales and the general feeling of the music industries down time doesn’t reflect or affect the music artists are creating. Whether 47% of teens don’t buy CDs or not, I feel that the musicians who truly care about the music they make and the fans they please, will still continue to do so, and those who are just in it for the fame and money, will slowly disappear.

So, if you’re truly a fan of music and want to support your favorite artist, buy their music, or at the very least, go to their live show and buy merchandise. Anything you can do to help will be greatly appreciated, and will be given back to you in the form of new records and releases.

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