] Research by George Zieman gives the true reason for
] falling CD sales: the major labels have slashed
] production by 25 per cent in the past two years, he
] argues.
]
] After keeping the figure rather quiet for two years, the
] Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) says the
] industry released around 27,000 titles in 2001, down from
] a peak of 38,900 in 1999. Since year-on-year unit sales
] have dropped a mere 10.3 per cent, it's clear that demand
] has held up extremely well: despite higher prices,
] consumers retain the CD buying habit.