don't get too depressed. the industry still does over 12 billion in sales(most is still cd), and more new music labels are popping up today, than ever. the hobby of record collecting(or cd collecting) was never for the masses anyway. be more concerned with lousy vinyl quality control, and the deterioration of the facilicites that make records.
Another article re CD sales
Yet, another interesting article re the decline of CD sales and popularity of downloading singles. The article raises an interesting parallel that I had not really considered, i.e. that artists/record companies are returning to the single as the primary medium for sales, such as in the 50's/60's when artists primary sold 45's with an A & B side as opposed to full length albums. I suppose its true that history does repeat itself.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/26/business/media/26music.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5070&en=926f719db494664e&ex=1175572800&emc=eta1
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/26/business/media/26music.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5070&en=926f719db494664e&ex=1175572800&emc=eta1