THE LEFT LANE
Album sales down

Advertiser Staff and News Services

Nielsen SoundScan reported last week that 2002 album sales fell to 681 million from 763 million in 2001. Overall music sales in 2001 had been down 5 percent — the first decline since SoundScan began tracking music sales in 1991.

Hilary Rosen, chairwoman and CEO of the Recording Industry Association of America, blamed the decline mainly on illegal downloading of music off the Internet.

"Our younger buyers are telling us they are buying significantly less albums because they're finding what they want for free on the Internet," she said.

The slumping economy also has contributed to the decrease, Rosen said: "Our older buyers are telling us that they've been affected by the economy."

All music genres dipped in sales, with two exceptions: Country album sales rose about 12 percent, reversing a slight decline in 2001, and jazz titles were up slightly.

Weight loss wins out

FranklinCovey, the Utah-based company that makes products designed to keep us more organized, lists the top New Year's resolutions and goals as:

1. Lose weight. 2. Improve finances, save money or eliminate debt. 3. Quit or reduce smoking. 4. Exercise or improve physical fitness. 5. Change career or job. 6. Improve family relationships. 7. Improve health. 8. Continue education. 9. Improve work habits or career. 10. Improve relationships with others.

It's been seven days — how are you doing so far?

See it live on HBO

Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood headline the show, which features songs from "Forty Licks," the group's recently released CD of four new songs and 36 classics.

Correction: HBO will broadcast a live concert by The Rolling Stones on Jan. 18. A previous version of this Left Lane gave the wrong date.