9 million albums sold in the third quarter, which already makes 12 percent less compared to previous year. According to Variety, the music industry has officially ended with a total of 297. However, this year, the industry would have to amount to over 40 percent. Record companies are for another year financially weak, as a minimum of 200 million albums during the last quarter is now necessary in order to break even the last year with the low total. 2007 saw a total of 500. 5 million sales with more than 30 per cent of records purchased from the fourth quarter.