The Future: Heart Attack or Stroke

Instead of slowing down, people in the rock industry will be burning out in their 50's and 60's. Illegal downloading will literally kill them.

"The record business is over," says Peter Paterno, an attorney for Metallica, Dr. Dre and others, "The labels have wonderful assets - they just can't make any money off them." That's because illegal downloaders are so happy to "share" boxed sets, entire discographies, and anything else intended to be sold, not stolen.

Performers who thought they could slow down...aging country singers, pop artists, and fragile rock stars who lived a fast lifestyle...will be playing county fairs in the heat of summer, 20 dates a month on the road in cruddy bars, and pushing themselves to the point of heart attack and stroke. They will be found dead in hotel rooms and bloggers will say "Here's the entire discography" by way of tribute.