A new report indicates that worldwide music sales will drop some $5 billion by 2011. The 18-page discussion of music sales also indicates that the drop from $31.8 billion last year to $26.2 billion four years from now will also play out in U.S. sales, with a $2 billion drop occurring. The loss is attributable to "plummeting CD sales" and "faster-than-expected declines in sales of physical recordings in key markets."

In reality though, such a loss should not be unexpected. Digital sales are simply less expensive than physical sales and as a result of other high commodities more accessible. Digital growth has taken off this year, following EMI's drop in use of Digital Rights Management technology, which prohibits the piracy of downloaded media files. Of course, the big news and more long-lasting growth was Radiohead's decision to initially release their new album online, DRM-free, and giving fans the option to pay what they want.

The true discussion should be, and in some sectors is, the value of music. Some say Radiohead has lowered that value, while others argue that music is a freedom all consumers should not have to pay extravagantly for. But if, in four years, this report becomes a reality, rather than a prediction, we should be ready to blame the record industry for failing to adapt to the changing market as swiftly as it should have. Consumers deserve the "pay as they want" scheme because it adds a level of excitement (and concern) to the industry that was not there two months ago.