Well I know alot of people are interested in Soundscan, though it is not very accurate and only counts certain chains and only tracks "store" orders not SALES and doesnt track any internet orders either. However i know some people have been dieing over how low the numbers are lately with CD's "soundscanning" about 90-100,000 and coming into the top 10 with that number, well expect it to get even worse, in fact possibly by about another 10-15 % drop maybe even more. Recently the Musicland chain shut down 400 stores, Transworld and FYE will be shutting about 100, and now Tower Records is back in trouble again and is up for sale or closure. Basically what this means is whatever kind of numbers that these stores did last year will not be a factor this year, so dont be surprised to see new releases coming in with about 75,000 and topping the charts, and dont be surprised to see every artist especially TOP sellers struggle to get to a 500,000 total. Since Soundscan is based on Store Orders and Reorders the more that shut down the lower the numbers will get until a whole new system is invented. A perfect one would be "Actual Sales, Internet Sales, Website Sales of the Artists factored in too, this would be a MAJOR shot to the big labels since many artists do well with selling their own stuff on their own and not through a MAJOR label, i think this day is just around the corner. The system is about done.

The industry needs to restructure the way in which it tabulates music. Music sales have *been* shifted to digital for some years now. Most people in the 16-24 range get their music digitally (legal or not). Music stores are now becoming a novelty unless they figure out a way to cater to the digital revolution.

I never thought I'd see this day come, consumers actually getting all sorts of music at their fingertips with just the click of a mouse and bucking the industry in the process.

you know what I've noticed? In my city,there are hardly any record stores left! Our two biggest shopping malls no longer have record stores in them.MusicLand and The Wherehouse closed down many years ago.Our local MediaPlay closed down a few months ago.I have to drive all the way to a nearby city just to find a Tower Records.This is insane!