A new report commissioned by a think tank called the Economic Research Council says that any problems the record industry has suffered in recent years has been "entirely self inflicted", primarily because of major record companies' inability or unwillingness to utilise the potential of the internet. It also argues that the UK music business too frequently fails to break its new artists in the US, while American bands penetrate the British market with ease, because record companies over here don't properly understand the American market.
The report's author, American but British based musician Andrew Ian Dodge, says: "For every group that conquers the US like Coldplay, the Spice Girls and Iron Maiden, there are many acts like Robbie Williams, Oasis and Busted which have come back with their tails between their legs. It's partly because of the bands themselves and their trust in their handlers. But in many cases, it is the British music companies themselves which seem to have no knowledge of the American market".
The report also criticises the BBC which, it argues, unfairly dominates the airwaves while failing to champion a diverse enough variety of new music, too readily supporting the music industry's 'mass manufacture' of boy/girl bands.
You can find out more and order copies of the report at http://www.ercouncil.org/