Morale: CDs Go To War

Archives

October 24, 2007: While the recording industry bemoans the shrinking sales of music CDs, that is not the case in Iraq and Afghanistan. At least not among U.S. troops, who bought 1.7 million CDs last year, in 54 Middle Eastern post and base exchanges (military style Wal-Marts that have been around since World War II). While the record companies sold about 1.5 CDs per teenager and adult in the United States last year, the troops in the Middle East bought three times as many. The recording industry would say that's because the troops can't download much music (not enough fast connections). But it's mostly because listening to music is a popular off-duty activity. Only about a third of the U.S. population buys CDs, while nearly half the troops in the Middle East do. Many troops are also listening to iPods, but CDs remain the easiest way to get new music in the combat zone.

 

X

ad

Help Keep Us From Drying Up

We need your help! Our subscription base has slowly been dwindling.

Each month we count on your contributions. You can support us in the following ways:

  1. Make sure you spread the word about us. Two ways to do that are to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
  2. Subscribe to our daily newsletter. We’ll send the news to your email box, and you don’t have to come to the site unless you want to read columns or see photos.
  3. You can contribute to the health of StrategyPage.
Subscribe   Contribute   Close