For the week ending May 30, the U.S. music industry sold a total of 4,984,000 albums, according to Nielsen Soundscan. This figure, which includes new and catalog releases, represents the fewest number of albums sold in one week since Soundscan began compiling this data in 1994.

And that’s not all: While there’s no exact way to compare last week’s total against imprecise, pre-Soundscan tallies, Billboard estimates that weekly album sales volume could, in fact, be at its lowest point since the early 1970s.

From a Billboard article published today, June 3, 2010, on the current sales figures on the Billboard charts.

Music is not dead–it’s just changing.

People aren’t buying CD’s anymore because they’re overpriced, unwieldy, and outdated. That isn’t my own personal perspective on the matter (I’m the dork blowing paychecks on limited edition vinyls and super rare CD singles from France), but it certainly is for the vast majority of modern music listeners.

Digital outlets such as iTunes, Amazon, and Beatport are working to a degree (albeit slowly), but there needs to be a much more massive and all-encompassing initiative.

While I personally don’t host music without direct consent from record labels or artists (I don’t have time to fight copyright battles, nor do I particularly enjoy popularizing a campaign prematurely), I fully understand the fact that music blogs have become the forum through which most fans consume music.

MP3 blogs crop up and die just as quickly as they’re created, but they keep coming back–and in greater numbers by the day. It’s a movement that has gone too far at this point to be stopped.

It’s not just blogs, though. If a song can’t be found on a blog, it’s in a forum. If it’s not in a forum, it’s on a torrent. If it’s not on a torrent, it’s being sent directly from person to person. The cycle can never and will never be stopped when a song is leaked. That is, unless the Internet becomes policed to an unconstitutional degree. (Then again, I’m not saying it won’t come to that either.)

The realm of streaming radio services like Pandora seem to be a good place to start exploring, as most casual music listeners are content simply streaming their music. Get some marketing masterminds to conceive a pay-for-streaming system that no one could possibly live without. (Spotify, for instance, is especially intriguing.)

Artists are making money in different ways now. Touring, merchandise, branding, and promotion have become vastly more important in terms of generating revenue. There’s a reason your Beyonce stadium tickets are $300 (aside from her own personal vanity)–no one’s taking that album off the shelf at Target. At least, not nearly as much as they were in 1998.

Other artists have since taken to different methods in order to fund their own albums. Patrick Wolf memorably endeavored into a successful grassroots sponsorship/funding model for his 2009 album, The Bachelor. Using Bandstocks, investors in the project (fans, basically) were treated to benefits depending on the amount they pledge, including tickets and merchandise.

Radiohead‘s pay-what-you-want system during the promotion of their 2007 album In Rainbows is by far one of the most, though the idea still seems iffy in dealing with artists that aren’t already established superstars.

Further on in the above Billboard article, the writer proves why the mainstream label heads simply don’t get it. “UMGD’s Urie [Jim Urie, president of Universal] cites this week’s album total as “all the more reason why everyone in the industry should be focused on getting the U.S. Congress to introduce legislation that makes the Internet service providers our allies in fighting piracy.”

Wrong. The key is to stop focusing your efforts on ending piracy and start getting inventive. Put your funds into research and marketing. Find a new distribution system that labels can effectively use for listeners to purchase music digitally at a low cost (or none, perhaps through advertising revenue). The movie and television industries are already taking leaps to make the shift–so should music.

The key to fighting the battle against music piracy is not limitation, but rather innovation.

Find a new way to market music digitally, instead of holding dear to the ancient, impractical institutions of a time in which the Internet never existed.

It’s disgusting outside. Absolutely. Disgusting. So why not put up a few streamers ’round the house, strew some condoms and beer cans around, and make your own home the scene to beat tonight?

I think that’s the best course of action for night skies as grim as these…

As usual, take what you’d like, leave what you don’t. I HIGHLY recommend the Friday Bridge track especially…goes down exxxtra smooth.

DL: Laidback Luke & Diplo – Hey (Sonic Truth Remix)
DL: Friday Bridge РThis Case Is Closed (Johan Agebj̦rn Remix)
DL: Patrick Wolf – Who Will (Buffetlibre Remix)
DL: Pony Pony Run Run – Hey You (Stereoheroes Remix)
DL: Julia – Cocaine (The Knocks Remix)
DL: MSTRKRFT – So Deep (Colin Munroe Freestyle)

Lo and behold, the video for Patrick Wolf‘s second single off of The Bachelor has arrived! Click here if you cannot see it below.

It’s sort of like if Sia‘s “Soon We’ll Be Found” and MEG‘s “Precious” (greatest video in the history of modern film) had a rendezvous at sunset with Kylie Minogue‘s “The One” and put a few lampshades on some dancer’s heads.

BRILLIANT. Love it!

P.S. Congratulations on your music video debut, Michael!

According to MuuMuse special affairs correspondent M, Patrick Wolf is taping the video for his upcoming single (and best track off The Bachelor), “Hard Times,” right NOW in New York City.

The actors are apparently dressed in all black, and the artist has yet to arrive. Will update as details roll in from the shoot!

EDIT: Patrick Wolf is in the building! Dancers have just learned choreography, suited in black leotards, and the set’s complete with blacklights.

EDIT 2: Here it is, folks! Excluusive video from the set of Hard Times! Thank you, Mikey…you did brilliantly!

EDIT: Click “Read More…” to see pictures!

Come every January, the promise and excitement of new music releases for the new year lies tantalizingly close upon the horizon. Though dozens of fabulous albums will be released this year, I thought I’d compile a list of some of my most heart-pumping, bar-raising anticipated releases for 2009. And just so we’re clear, the answer is yes: In my world, Kelly Clarkson fits that definition.

Annie
As far as Pop Injustices go, it is well known within the industry that Nordic electro-chanteuse Annie truly took the cake in 2008 when her second major album, Don’t Stop, ironically stalled in production only weeks before its release. Annie’s endeavors were cast aside for more lucrative projects after a major corporate shake-up within the star’s former label, Island Records, leading to her eventual drop from the label.
Luckily, she hasn’t given up on the album just yet. In fact, According to a new interview with Exclaim, Annie still owns the original masters of the tracks, and she’s more than willing to give them a proper home at another label. With some time to kill and some new tracks slipped under her Casio keyboard, she’s now aiming to make an album twice as nice as before. With a pending release under Richard X’s record label, “Anthonio,” as well as Don’t Stop favorite, “My Love Is Better” lined up for the first quarter of ’09, perhaps Don’t Stop can finally start revving itself up again.

Why It Could Be So Right: Don’t Stop: The First Time Around
Where It Could All Go Wrong: The Second Great Depression.

DL: Annie – 2 Of Hearts (zShare)

Pet Shop Boys
Let’s hear it for the Boys: After a three year waiting period since their last effort, Fundamental, the iconic electronic duo is gearing up for a new studio album due out March 23, entitled Yes. Anticipation for the album’s release surged when it was announced that Xenomania, the purveyors of glam-pop perfection, would be taking the helm of the production for this new album. With the album already deemed by PopJustice! as “quite good” and the lead single “Love Etc.” described as nothing we’ve ever heard before (in a good way!), the new album may just be the Boys’ punchiest yet.

Why It Could Be So Right: Xenomania; Thinly veiled references to homosexuality
Where It Could All Go Wrong: Country twang and barn sounds.

DL: Pet Shop Boys – It’s A Sin (Barfly Mix) (zShare)

Röyksopp
Torbjørn Brundtland and Svein Berge are only moving up: The two began with 2001′s Melody A.M., an aural accomplishment of trip-hop infused ambient noise and slow sizzling beats. With their follow-up The Understanding in 2004, the two headed into a more mainstream pop direction, enlisting the help of The Knife‘s Karin Dreijer, as well as ethereal crooner, Kate Havnevik. The pairing resulted in some of the most essential tracks on the album (“Only This Moment,” “What Else Is There?”), exercises in high-brow pop innovation and brooding electronica.
Following the announcement of the band’s 10th year anniversary came the announcement of Junior, their third major album due March 23. The electro-duo seem to have benefited from a newfound spring in their step, as evidenced in their buoyant, bouncy new single, “Happy Up Here.” Most exciting of all, Röyksopp are not only once again working with Karin Dreijer, but have also enlisted the help of indie darlings Lykke Li and Robyn for their newest release. The latest promotional shots have all featured the boys grinning from ear to ear, so who knows? Perhaps there’s a reason they’re smiling so much.

Why It Could Be So Right: Nordic Pop Perfection, Guest vocals
Where It Could All Go Wrong: Guitars.

DL: R̦yksopp РHappy Up Here (zShare)

Imogen Heap
You’ve no doubt heard this sweet songstress somewhere before: Teaming up with Guy Sigsworth as part of side-project Frou Frou, lining the soundtracks of your favorite FOX drama, or perhaps even performing live on Indie 103. Well, Imogen’s stepping back into the spotlight, having been busying herself in preparation for the follow-up to 2005’s spectacular solo album, Speak For Yourself.
Following a move back into her British childhood home, the singer-songwriter decided to build an in-house studio. During the noisy process, the singer had an epiphany: To implement the clicks, clacks, and squeaky sounds of her home directly into her songs, adding what should prove to be an intriguing, organic element to her new music. Recent teasers played in Immi’s weekly video blogs seem to suggest brilliance as usual…Look for this one to hit stores around late-April or May.

Why It Could Be So Right: Concept albums.
Where It Could All Go Wrong: Probably can’t…It’s Imogen Heap.

DL: Imogen Heap – Headlock (zShare)

Kelly Clarkson
Remember that widely reported and entirely overblown altercation between Kelly Clarkson and Clive Davis? Well, say what you will about the matter, but Davis had it right—Clarkson simply wasn’t ready to write her own rock.
To be fair, My December hardly profited from any more gritty ‘tude than her previous album, Breakaway. Yet unlike the groundbreaking album that catapulted Clarkson from the likes of talent show hack to bhona fide belter overnight, My December suffered an aggravating amassing of angst-fueled lyricism that failed to translate into sales, stalling the album’s performance on the carts and failing to propel the deeply unappreciated single “Sober” to its deserved potential.
Nevertheless, the true Idol original has seemingly sucked it up and teamed up with mega-pop titans, including Ryan Tedder (“Apologize,” “Bleeding Love”) and Dr. Luke, responsible for her post-“Since U Been Gone” stormer, “My Life Would Suck Without You.” Judging by the track, Clarkson’s sound hasn’t changed one bit–She’s just added a few, catchy new hooks into the mix.

Why It Could Be So Right: Effortless vocals.
Where It Could All Go Wrong: A renewed desire to fight the man.

DL: Kelly Clarkson – My Life Would Suck Without You (zShare)

Utada
After over four years, the J-Pop megastar is finally planning to return to our side of the shore with the follow-up to her 2004 major label English debut, Exodus. Though the album never took off in sales, it remains one of the finest moments of synth eccentricity and smart-pop ingenuity within her entire back catalog.
After the premiere of the album’s R&B-tinged, hook-heavy lead single, “Come Back To Me,” it seems Hikki’s seeking a radio hit with this new album. As a result, I’m willing to bet we’ll see some star-studded production by blockbuster hip-hop hit-makers, including Timbaland and Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins—longtime collaborators and friends. Look for Utada’s upcoming album to drop on March 24 in the States.

Why It Could Be So Right: Alanis-inspired divorce angst.
Where It Could All Go Wrong: Kuma-Chan…‘Nuff said.

DL: Utada – Come Back To Me (zShare)

Frankmusik
For those still unaware, Frankmusik is the Most Exciting Man in Pop. It is no surprise then that his upcoming debut is set to be the Most Exciting Debut in Pop for ‘09. With a sound as frenetic and jittery as the nauseating background images on his MySpace, Mr. Vincent Frank is paving the way for the new generation of DIY-electro online artists. Leading off with a new single for the new year (“Better Off As Two”), it’s only a matter of time before the public catches the buzz. Look for Complete Me to hit stores around June.

Why It Could Be So Right: Access to studio equipment, continued perfection
Where It Could All Go Wrong: Lucrative photoshoot offers from gay magazines.

DL: Frankmusik – Better Off As Two (zShare)

Little Boots
Little Boots is going to be the next big thing in 2009. But don’t take my word for it—ask the British! The BBC recently knighted the DIY-electro superstar as the official “Sound of 2009,” meaning that she’s probably about to have some nice things happen. Like fellow MySpacer Frankmusikm Little Boots has been teasing her fan base with an ever-cycling array of tracks on her MySpace, as well as an adorable selection of weekly pop covers on YouTube. The grainy videos feature the little star hammering away at her Casio, wailing away toward the sky. Each week, Ms. Boots attacks her track of choice with the same intensity and sincerity, whether she’s covering Hot Chip or Miley Cyrus. Give it up, Lady Gaga, there’s a true disco diva coming to save pop. Stay tuned for her electro-fied debut sometime in the second half of the year.

Why It Could Be So Right: Known Kylie Minogue fan.
Where It Could All Go Wrong: Marriage proposal by Frankmusik, resulting in flight off into the countryside

DL: Little Boots – Stuck On Repeat (zShare)

Lily Allen
British potty-mouth and original MySpace ce-webrity Lily Allen has managed to stay within the musical spotlight for over three years now with only one album under her brightly-colored summer dress, 2006’s genre-mashing Alright, Still. With some new friends behind the mixing table (Greg Kurstin) and some new funds to work with, Allen’s sound has already transformed into a much more polished production for 2009’s It’s Not Me, It’s You, due February 9. Fear not, Allen admirers—she’s still the same ol’ brat. Just listen to the lead single, “The Fear,” the tongue-in-cheek, world-weary woe song of a socialite. It’s better than anything from Alright, Still, a probable sign of the new album’s quality.

Why It Could Be So Right: Stupid girls still thrive in society.
Where It Could All Go Wrong: MySpace shuts down.

DL: Lily Allen – The Fear (zShare)

Judging from the list, it seems this may be the year of the MySpace star…Or the Norwegians. Anyway, this is but merely the beginning! Look out for more amazing releases from the likes of dozens more, including: Patrick Wolf, The Noisettes, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Kate Havnevik, Depeche Mode, Janelle Monae, and Sia.

Please take a moment to travel over to XO’s Middle Eight, where my Wolf-crazy friend has written his latest post about Patrick Wolf here!

Not only is Wolf preparing the release of his newest album Battles (with a fancy behind-the-scenes teaser to boot!), but he’s also taking a rather experimental dive into the world of independent music production…By including the fans in its creation! Well…Financially, anyway. Check it out for yourself!