The latest industry figures show that U.S. album sales were down 4.2 percent in the first half of 2006, but sales of downloaded music soared 77 percent. We look at the implications of this trend with Grant Robertson, editor of the Digital Music Weblog. Also: With 2006 more than half over, we review some albums have been mostly overlooked this year by fans and critics with Ryan Schreiber, editor of the online music magazine Pitchfork Media, and Steve Smith, associate music editor of Time Out New York. Finally, the French Kicks are a New York indie pop quintet that's been praised for its smart lyrics and piano-rich sound. The band shares music from its latest CD, "Two Thousand."
US Album Sales Down; Downloads Soar
In the first half of 2006, CD sales were down but downloads were up. Way up. Grant Robertson, editor of the Digital Music Weblog, explains what it means.
» Digital Music Weblog
» Digital Music Weblog
The Most Overlooked Albums of 2006
Ryan Schreiber, editor of the online music magazine Pitchfork Media, and Steve Smith, associate music editor of Time Out New York share their most overlooked albums of the first half of 2006.
» Pitchfork's most overlooked albums of 2006
» Pitchfork's most overlooked albums of 2006
The French Kicks
No, it's not a reference to the recent World Cup finals but a New York-based indie quintet.
» The French Kicks Web site
» The French Kicks Web site