Can PS NOW become a billion dollar annual service?

[The_Liquid_Laser]

Replicant said:

The_Liquid_Laser said:

1) Blockbuster was not killed by digital distribution. It was killed by a combination of Redbox and movies by mail service from Netflix.  Neither one is digital distribution.

2) Record stores actually were killed by digital distribution of music.  The music industry has not recovered.  Seriously, look at the numbers if you actually care. The music industry took a huge nosedive during the 21st century and now it is just a shell of its former self.

The digital distribution model can make the video game industry plummet in the same way that the music industry did.  No video game company wants to go the way of the music industry.

1) What? Of course digital distribution of movies was the thing killing physical distribution (purchase, rental, mail service, etc).

2) And of course digital distribution of music was the thing killing physical distribution and record stores. Sure, I also miss physical media and stores once in awhile but boy, do I enjoy the ease of streaming my entertainment (music, movies, and most likely also games in a few years).

You make it sound like the music industry is close to dying. Sure, it was declining for years but all industries adapt and for the past 3 years it has been growing.

 

The graph below is from 2016 but according to IFPI, 2017 was the 3rd consecutive year of growth. In time, I can see the music industry fully recover and even surpass its peak from 1999.

"Figures released today in IFPI’s Global Music Report 2018 show total revenues for 2017 were US$17.3 billion.

Streaming remains the main driver of recovering revenues and, for the first time, has become the single largest revenue source with 176 million users of paid streaming services contributing to year-on-year streaming growth of 41.1%. Total digital income last year accounted for more than half of all revenue (54%) for the first time."

 

"Life finds a way".

1) No.  I am not sure how old you are or if you were paying attention when Blockbuster was in trouble, but it was in trouble far before Netflix even offered a streaming service.  "Of course digital distribution of movies was the thing killing physical distribution".  We are talking about Blockbuster.  It was not killed by digital distribution.

2) Your chart starts at 2006.  Most of the damage was already done by then.  Go back to the 90's or better yet to the 60's.  Also you need to adjust for inflation and population growth.  The numbers tell a very different story.  The music industry is just a hollow shell of what it used to be.