Cracks in the music recording business are becoming more obvious as there is a growing recognition that senior recording execs are out of touch with new realities. “The industry is now selling 100 million fewer CD’s and cassettes than it did in 2000. According to Nielsen SoundScan, which tracks album sales, 681 million were sold in 2002, down from 785 million in 2000. At the same time, music-swapping on the Internet, perceived as a major threat, continues to grow. The industry’s immediate problem is that although costs must be cut, the biggest costs of all — talent and marketing — are the toughest to rein in.”