The Doors lead way as big names of rock go digital

Owen Gibson, Monday March 26th 2007

The Doors now intend to "snare" a new generation of fans by releasing an entire back catalogue online for the very first time.
With the decline of CD sales, record labels are now trying to move to the web scene and hope to market rock's biggest names to younger listeners via the web.

Record companies are moving to digital download because they intend to boost online sales. Material available has been remastered with new material from the original sessions by the band and engineer.

Whilst the marketing focus used to be on persuading die-hard fans on spending their money on tracks they already own, it has now changed to targeting younger record buyers who missed such classic acts the first time around.
Doors guitarist Robby Krieger has admitted to using "iTunes and stuff".
Keyboard player Ray Manzarek added "although you gain the ease of access, you do lose the sense of an artefact".

Offering download-only content such as video interviews, ringtones, and remixes is further evidence of how bands such as The Doors continue to evolve as technology itself evolves around them.

Krieger has also stated that the record labels have not evolved, and that they have gotten "too much power and ego".

Top selling back catalogue artists
1 The Beatles
2 AC/DC
3 Muse
4 Rod Stewart
5 Metallica
6 Pink Floyd
7 Oasis
8 Madonna
9 Michael Jackson
10 Eagles

Top selling back catalogue downloads
1 Take That
2 Kylie Minogue
3 Pink Floyd
4 Michael Jackson
5 Linkin Park
6 Eminem
7 Queen
8 Guns N' Roses
9 David Bowie
10 Abba