Music Industry Has Lousy Year; Hopes for Boost from Early 2008 Releases

The downturn in sales of recorded music isn't going away. In fact, an article on Arstechnica reports that music sales are down 21% this Christmas season (Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve), according to Variety. The article notes that Josh Groban's "Noel" was the best-selling album of 2007.

These losses came, the article notes, as sales of videos stayed pretty much the same, and that of games registered a 5% gain.

With this bad news, it's no surprise that the music industry is hoping for a lift from new albums from established stars. An article from Billboard looks at some of the major releases slotted for early 2008. Among some of the new releases expected from heavy hitters in the industry from January through March:

JANUARY

• Willie Nelson, "Moment of Forever" - January 29
  
• Sarah Brightman, "Symphony" - January 29
  
• Motel, "17" - January 29
  
  FEBRUARY
  
• Lil Wayne, "Tha Carter III"
  
• Nas, "Nigger"
  
• Ja Rule, "The Mirror"
  
• Nicole Scherzinger, "Her Name Is Nicole"
  
• Sheryl Crow, "Detours"
  
• Lenny Kravitz, "It Is Time for a Love Revolution"
  
• Anthony Hamilton, "Me"
  
• Jack Johnson, "Sleep Through the Static"
  
• Dolly Parton, "Backwoods Barbie"
  
• Simple Plan, "Simple Plan"
  
• Rick Ross, "Trilla"
  
• Janet Jackson, "Discipline"
  
• Erykah Badu, "Nu Amerykah"
  
• Goldfrapp, "Seventh Tree"
  
  MARCH
  
• Ashlee Simpson, "Bittersweet World"
  
• The Offspring, TBA
  
• Gavin DeGraw, TBA
  
• Estelle, "Shine"
  
• Alan Jackson, "Good Time"
  
• Bauhaus, "Go Away White"
  
• Michael McDonald, "Soul Speak"
  
• Moby, "Last Night"
  
• Leona Lewis, "Spirit"
  
• Panic! at the Disco, TBA