Im putting together some numbers showing clearly how artists better be prepared to sell in all markets, because the USA just aint cutting it anymore, and also how artists that sell in all markets really dont need the USA at all, u will be amazed. So whats everyones view on america as the powerhouse of music it used to be.

I think a lot of that depends on the artist and the type of music they are performing. If you are talking about pop music, then it doesn't nearly matter as much to be a huge artist in the USA because that music can sell anywhere else around the world. There are many artists who are huge internationally but can't get arrested here in the States, like Anastacia or Robbie Williams, and this is particularly true for Eurodance artists. As for more particular genres like alternative, country or most hip-hop, the USA is still a huge market because a lot of that music isn't that popular overseas. I don't know how many fans in Europe, Japan or South America are rushing out to buy the latest Brooks & Dunn album, or are clamoring for the latest Rick Ross CD. As far as country music goes, I believe that the only international area where it is really popular outside of North America is Australia.

As for the future, and maybe it's even sort of true right now, the biggest markets for music and entertainment will be India and China. India already is huge thanks to the Bollywood industry, and Hong Kong produces a lot of the pop culture for China. The USA population just went over 300 million people last month, but that pales with the collective population of China (1.3 billion) and India (1.1 billion).

lastdecember said:

it matters just as much as it always did. it's the biggest market with the most content producers.

sales may be down, but the US piece of the whole pie isn't any smaller than it was 10 years ago.

Well i think if artists starting out, want to have long success they will have to appeal to the other markets of the world in some way, its also funny how alot of American acts are more successful everywhere else but here. I know the big joke used to be, oh youre big in Japan, but i think the bigger joke might be "oh youre just big in the US"

Some current albums by american artists

Bon Jovi "Have a Nice Day" 2 million US 11 Million Worldwide (it also should be known that Jovi has sold close to 130 million worldwide, almost 70% of that from european markets)

Pussycat Dolls "PCD" 1.8 Million US 6 million Worldwide (also have sold 1.5 singles sold in the US 16 million worldwide, which shoots down the theory that the commercial single is dead)
And tons of veteran performers like U2, Madonna, are bigger worldwide then they ever where.

And like you said artists like Kylie,Robbie,Anastacia, also Girls Aloud and tons of others have sold millions and millions and have been nothing in the Usa. Even QUEEN was never a force in this country, but its worldwide following was one of the biggest of any band ever. And also a band like a-Ha which is viewed as a One Hit wonder in this country, have sold 35 million albums worldwide, people didnt even know they existed still, in america that is
[Edited 11/16/06 21:46pm]
[Edited 11/16/06 21:47pm]

CD sales dont really matter they dont generate much money for anyone involved!!
The cost of making an album r very high about 10mil if its a big start becasue of all the producers involved in each project!! and all all the marketing and promotion which goes into it

they r purely a marketing tool

Even if there is alot of worldwide sales it doesnt really matter
the cost of making and makreting an album is so high there is very little profits to be made!!

no wonder Korn signed a deal which included all aspects of revenue streams this is goin to be the model for future artist i am pretty sure otherwise the record companies wont be able to sustain!!

plus album sales outside the US will start to drop of soon too its just a matter of time!!
[Edited 11/16/06 22:16pm]

lastdecember said:

The Pet Shop Boys are HUGE worldwide!! Only in the USA are they seen as an 80' group. Though I think the PSB's would love to be popular in the states, They don't seem to do much to court the US market. I think the real issue is that its become apparent that an artist/group can be popular worldwide without having the US market behind them.

lazycrockett said:

Yeah the list is countless of artists like that, Pet shop, Duran, Oasis, and many more, i think alot of artists coming out today are all looking to debut at number one, which everyone does with all the hype, but what they really should be doing if they really want to stick around, they need to get some kind of recognition in all the other markets, because the US one is not lucrative at all, unless your Beyonce or a mega star like that, but she even knows how important it is to go overseas, since 90% of her promotion on this album has been in the European market.

lastdecember said:

Also the US market is the hot/cold, as Heidi says, "one day your'e in, the next your'e out." And when your out the US doesn't usually take you back.
I guess my main point is that groups as well as labels are learning that the usa isn't the make all or break all of having a successful run in the music industry. Beyonce is more of a product than an artist, which i think in general could be said of most USA female "singers". The Package is the important thing, not whats inside.
[Edited 11/16/06 23:08pm]

I don't think the U.S. market is that important anymore.As long as fans are buying your CDs in other countries,you're doing fine.

SoulAlive said:

that's wishful thinking. if the U.S. market dried up and could no longer sustain a record industry, then there wouldn't be one in Europe or Asia/Australia anymore either. at least not an industry as we know it now. or one resembling anything we've seen in the last 50 years. you can't lose the biggest market in an industry and expect the industry to still exist.

KidOmega said:

Well in terms of money the labels in the states claim to lose money every year, and this year has been labeled the worst yet. I think we over estimate the power of the US market for music in the big picture, for Pop/rock artists its an easier thing for them to get a following in European countries,everyone from Beyonce to Mariah to aguilera to Jovi to U2 to Madonna all have worldwide appeal, and of course there are some that sell everywhere but here like Kylie (to a point),Robbie Williams,Girls Aloud, and others, for Rap artists its more difficult unless you are very mainstream, like BEP or Jay Z which are successful in other countries. But there are so many artists that we never hear of that sell millions that we never hear of over here, and in this country if you can sell a million at this point you are in a vanishing class.

lastdecember said:

the simple fact remains that even if you put the US artists with a worldwide fanbase asie, the sheer dollar amount that is generated by the U.S. market is what drives the industry.

KidOmega said:

But i dont think that other countries are really benefiting from the USA's money in the long run, i think in the past the USA was viewed as the "Holy Grail" and the place you wanted to conquer, but i think over the last decade or so the UK especially and other territories in Europe, especially Germany, have emerged on their own and now can stand on their own.

lastdecember said:

that's because European companies have bought all the American companies.