With record sales declining year after year, the chief source of revenue for mainstream pop stars has shifted to advertising endorsements, live performances, mobile phone ring tones, films and KTV licensing fees.
尤其近年來實體 CD 銷售金額逐年下降，使得主流歌手最主要的收入來源，轉而來自廣告代言、現場演唱會、手機鈴聲、電影戲劇，及 KTV 版權費等多角化管道，銷售唱片本身，反倒變成枝微末節之事。