Dying Single

In the Nov. 28 Pop Beat column, Geoff Boucher reported on the seemingly imminent death of the single record notwithstanding the rise in sales of CD singles. Record executives were quoted as saying singles cannibalize the sales of full-length albums, thus depriving record companies of the greater income to be had from the higher-priced configuration.

Less than a week later, The Times’ front page contained a piece by Chuck Philips headlined “Web Impresario Posing Threat to Music Industry,” about an online business providing site visitors with single recorded tracks and compilations of single tracks in addition to conventional album-length CDs.

Clearly the single isn’t jumping to its death; it’s being pushed. And this is alarming to consumers frustrated by the inconsistent quality of much album product. In many cases, they want only one track and don’t wish to spend more for the unwanted additional tracks they’re forced to buy--save the traditional B-side, which often served to whet buyers’ appetites for more from the recording artist.

While I deplore the front-page Web master’s involvement in aiding and abetting copyright rip-offs, I commend him for striving to give buyers what they want to buy--and no more.

DAVID ROSNER

President, the Bicycle Music Co.

Los Angeles