This is why recorded music is in a hole

Video game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 "established a new five-day sell-through record of more than $US775 million" worldwide according to a report in the Fairfax media. Activision Blizzard CEO Robert Kotick says global franchise sales now exceed $US6 billion.

Recorded music is no longer the compelling entertainment proposition it once was. It's really sad, but it's also the truth. It has become such a commodity, so commercialized and whatever other -ize you'd like to add to the mix, that it is mostly valueless to most people.

Except of course for the art.

Importantly though recorded music is having its proverbial ass kicked by other entertainment "properties". To repeat the lead, a video game generated sales of $755 million in five days!

The only thing for recording artists to do now is create great, compelling, life-changing art. If money can be made in the process then that's great. Making music is once again a calling, not a career.

And believe or not I'm rather hopeful about the future of tunes.