The changing music business

Here is an interesting aside in a recent Wall Street Journal story on the latest problems of the music company EMI:

Sales of recorded music have tumbled over the last decade, as digital downloads opened a floodgate to Internet piracy. Digital downloads also make it easier to buy single songs instead of albums, further curbing legitimate sales. But the music publishing business has continued to be strong, due in part to the revenue generated when music is licensed from publishers for use in commercials, films and video games.

So the music business is adapting to the new realities - finding new markets for its IP as the traditional markets change.