Music downloads are catching on! What an understatement. They are positively on fire. The number of MP3 downloads from legitimate license paying sites is set to grow at a rate of about 23% a year over the next five years. While this seems impressive consider this: a survey by Forrester Research Inc. tells us that by 2012, music downloads will surpass CD sales. Wow.

What does this mean for the industry? It means that businesses, organizations and umbrella groups need to stop looking back and wondering what went wrong and start moving with the times. Part of the reason the RIAA and similar groups feel the need to go on a trigger-happy sue parade aimed at anyone and anything is that they feel threatened. These people need to recognize that the future starts now. Music downloads are hot property and anyone wishing to cash in on music of any description needs to get moving.