Now in its ninth season, American Idol gets pretty exciting when it comes down to the final twelve and the weekly whittling process begins. Tens of millions vote each week for who should stay after listening to their heart rending performances.Now the show has reached a digital music milestone with over 160 million songs sold on iTunes.
Billboard's Fred Bronson called Simon Fuller's iTunes tally "historic" in a decade which has seen album sales slump and cheaper, digital sales soar.
"He is without question the biggest manager of the digital age," Bronson said.
The British entrepreneur teamed up "American Idol" with iTunes at the Apple music store's 2003 launch, spotting its potential to capitalize on the TV singing show's appeal and the tens of millions of fans who watch it weekly.
"I felt there was a real synergy with what I do, which is launching new artists and TV shows, and what iTunes does, which is to sell music in an immediate and interactive way," Fuller said in a rare interview.
According to the world recording industry group IFPI, physical sales of music fell by 12.7 percent globally in 2009 while digital music sales rose by 9.2 percent to $4.3 billion -- more than 10 times the digital market value in 2004.
Fuller, who turns 50 years-old next week, said the speed of change had come as a shock to the music industry but he expressed hope for the future. He is reportedly looking at all the digital platforms for the next big thing in entertainment. His artist management company is 19 Entertainment. One wonders over the next five years how the music industry will evolve.
Do you iTune, iPod? What's on your playlist? I am iIlliterate.
