When the skies are brighter canary yellow
I forget ev’ry cloud I’ve ever seen,
So they called me a cockeyed optimist
Immature and incurably green.

I have heard people rant and rave and bellow
That we’re done and we might as well be dead,
But I’m only a cockeyed optimist And I can’t get it into my head.

I hear the human race
Is fallin’ on its face
And hasn’t very far to go,
But ev’ry whippoorwill
Is sellin’ me a bill,
And tellin’ me it just ain’t so.

I could say life is just a bowl of Jello
And appear more intelligent and smart,
But I’m stuck like a dope
With a thing called hope,
And I can’t get it out of my heart!
Not this heart…

People are beginning to pay for music on the net but they are more likely to buy CDs online than individual tracks, research suggests.

But figures from internet measurement firm Neilsen/NetRatings found that free download service Kazaa was still the most popular music site in the UK, followed by sites selling CDs rather than digital downloads.  This will come as welcome news to the music industry which has regarded the online delivery of songs as a threat to the sale of CDs.  But the spectre of free file-swapping sites is still looming over both the music industry and websites trying to make a go of paid-for downloads.

I’m hopeful that going forward we see more and more positive signs of an industry coming to grips with the changes thrust upon it, rather than still trying to hold back the tide.

“In thinking about it overall, I began to think about the famous Kubler-Ross model of the five stages of grief. You know the one: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. I’m beginning to think that the recording industry has reached the beginning of the bargaining stage. Last year, we were still seeing the end of the anger stage, which followed a long period of denial. I think the bargaining stage is what we see now.

As Wikipedia notes:

The third stage involves the hope that the individual can somehow postpone or delay death. Usually, the negotiation for an extended life is made with a higher power in exchange for a reformed lifestyle. Psychologically, the individual is saying, “I understand I will die, but if I could just have more time…”

That sounds about right for the recording industry, doesn’t it?

I have no idea how much longer this stage will go on, but it’s worth noting that the fourth stage is still depression, which apparently involves much “crying and grieving” and during this stage “it is not recommended to attempt to cheer up” those going through the grieving process. I’m not quite sure how exactly that will play out in the recording industry, but if this is accurate, then the industry will need to go through that process before finally reaching the acceptance stage that it needs to get to.

All in all, though, like the stages of grief, this is part of the necessary process, and it should be seen as a good sign that the industry at least appears to be moving through them, rather than hanging onto denial and anger completely.  I’m hopeful that going forward we see more and more positive signs of an industry coming to grips with the changes thrust upon it, rather than still trying to hold back the tide.” — Predictions by Mike Masnick

Leading consumer researcher Britt Beemer has some good news for Christian retailers, for whom he has authored two influential past reports.

His America’s Research Group (ARG) has found a significant upswing in traffic and spending at Christian retail stores in the past quarter-fueled by a trend he said could be capitalized on with some good marketing.

Apple Buys EMI. Music blogger Bob Lefsetz’ now infamous April fools prank announcing this bogus purchase certainly fooled me, but oh I can dream.  Just the shot in the arm our industry needs – to have a great forward thinking company like apple take over the lethargic backwardness of our majors.

Cockeyed optimist?  Perhaps, but still optimistic about the future of music.

For more inspirational music, thoughts an ideas from Peter Link,
please visit Watchfire Music.