INSIDE PITCH: What’s the real ...

INSIDE PITCH: What’s the real mood of the record industry after a drab holiday sales season? When we want answers, we look to Macey Lippman Marketing, which has just released its eighth annual “State of the Business” survey, a poll of 155 record and video stores. The most intriguing news? Despite all the hoopla over industry copyright woes, only 16% of store staffers said business had been directly affected by piracy or counterfeiting. An even bigger surprise? While record chains are still fighting environmental activists’ efforts to dump the CD long box, only 35% of store staffers said they still supported the long box. And how about this for a sign of the graying of the rock audience? When the MLM poll listed the Top 17 boxed-set sales over the holidays, guess who finished ahead of Elton John, Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart, the Byrds and Jimi Hendrix? Led Zeppelin, which streaked far ahead of the pack, and George Michael’s new career consultant . . . Frank Sinatra.