Downloading; Not Necessarily the Down Low

Although the 2009 ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Association) sales results show that downloading is certainly leading the way in Australia's purchasing of music, the art form of buying CDs in record shops is not to be written off just yet.

Whilst the percentage margin between total physical record sales between 2008-2009
were down by 4.74%, the demand for recorded music is still as strong as ever, as ARIA chairman, Ed St John, recognises. He believes that "music remains a key priority for many Australian consumers" and that the results were due to the fact that music retailers have "stabilised and sharpened" their focus to help ensure that "the Australian music industry [experiences] a healthy state of growth".

The recorded music industry hasn't seen much growth since sales started declining in 2003 so the assurance that recorded products still have an imminent future in the music industry is welcomed by St John, saying in February 2010 that "as an industry, we have a lot to look forward to". As they're more accessible and easier to obtain, digital record sales are on the rise but St John sees the main issue facing digital tracks dominating the industry at the moment is how many consumers are illegally obtaining the tracks saying, "Illegal file sharing..continues to erode profits and hamper investment into the local industry".

Many consumers prefer CDs rather than downloading due to the cover art and liner notes provided, a feature digital media doesn't deliver, suggesting that maybe the practice of purchasing music in a physical form is something that may never cease to operate.

*This is for my second assignment, focusing on the structure of an article and answering the 5 W's: who, where, when, what and why. Been edited due as I didn't like the wrap up of the first draft and someone pointed out an error I didn't see so I'm very open to suggestions for more help :)*