Digital Sales Keep Music Industry Afloat

[DudeAsInCool]

The music biz can't stem the bleeding, but, for now, digital tracks are proving to be a secure band-aid.

Album sales dropped for a seventh consecutive year, but a dramatic increase in the sale of digital tracks helped keep the music industry afloat in 2006.

588.2 million album units sold last year, a 4.9% drop, while 581.9 million digital tracks were purchased by consumers -- a 65% increase from 2005's 352.7 million sold. Nielsen SoundScan, which released the figures Thursday, counts a block of 10 tracks sold as an album.

Read more at Variety