By: Corey Tate

A new report from Forrester Research titled The End Of The Music Industry As We Know It projects that half of all music sold by 2011 will be digital and that downloads will over take CD sales in the following year.

In the brave new world that is the music industry, the winds of change are blowing. There's a battle between the establishment and a new kind of idea, one of hope. Change. An end to partisan ... oops. Got caught up in the Obamamania. Let me readjust to this story.

“This is the end of the music industry as we know it. Media executives eager to stay afloat in this receding tide must clear the path of discovery and purchase, but only hardware and software providers can ultimately make listening to music as easy as turning on the radio,” said said Forrester Research Vice President and Principal Analyst James L. McQuivey.

In a statement that reads as glaringly obvious after you read it, they say "Forrester believes digital downloads are the logistical mass market for the future." I'm sure they spent a lot of money of the survey though. Also, why 'digital' downloads? Have you ever heard of a download that isn't digital? You heard it here on Spacelab first! Analog downloads will see a decline over the next 5 years!

They're chalking up the future to 3 key drivers: MP3 players, DRM-free music, and social networks. If you're in a band, this is your future.