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Digital music downloads reached a milestone in 2008, exceeding 1 billion songs purchased online, according to a newly released report from Nielsen SoundScan, which tracks music sales. That represents a 27% gain over the previous year.

But the soaring popularity of the 99-cent download is not enough to offset continued declines in CD sales, which still account for the bulk of the music industry’s revenue. Physical disc sales fell nearly 20% to 362.6 million, the seventh decline in eight years, according to SoundScan.

Overall album sales — including CDs and the digital equivalent — dropped 8.5% compared with 2007. Every musical genre, including alternative rock, Christian, gospel, new age and rap, reported across-the-board declines in album sales. Holiday sales — hello recession — were off by a steep 19%.

In an effort to cope with changing technology and the threat of Internet piracy, the recorded music industry has been exploring new sources of revenue. Royalties from satellite and Internet radio and so-called 360 deals with artists, in which the label shares in concert ticket and merchandise sales, contribute to the labels’ bottom line. Video games such as “Rock Band” and “Guitar Hero” also generate licensing fees.

Nielsen doesn’t track those alternative revenue streams, which are not yet large enough to offset the decline in CD sales.

Universal Music Group remained the industry’s big dog, with a nearly 32% share of the album market, followed by Sony BMG Music Entertainment at 25%. Warner Music Group claimed 21% of sales, and the smallest of the major labels, EMI Music, saw its market share drop slightly to 9%.

Lil Wayne’s “Tha Carter III” was the bestselling album of the year, and country crossover artist Taylor Swift was the top solo artist.

The ’70s heavy-metal rock group AC/DC — a group that long labored in the shadow of such contemporaries as Led Zeppelin — was the bestselling group.

You can earn a tidy profit in real estate, but the only drawback is that you need a large amount of initial capital. There are a variety of ways to get the funds, but the most practical way is to borrow money from a stable financier. This is when you need to consider an investment property mortgage loan.

The process starts with you deciding how you want to make your profits in real estate. There are two types of investment property mortgage loans - Commercial and Residential. Whether you plan to buy a warehouse to rent out, or a condo, your goals determine where and how you get your financial backing.

In general, a residential loan is one where you are buying a property with one to four dwellings (five or more is considered commercial). Most of the money from this investment will come from the tenants’ monthly rents. A commercial loan is needed when you are getting more than a handful of rental units, or an investment that supplies business needs like a warehouse, office or store. You can expect to pay back your loan through the money the business or businesses generate.

Lenders want to minimize risk as much as possible, and make sure that they get their payments on time for the life of the loan. They will want you to provide extensive information. The information may be different depending on the type of venture you wish to pursue. For example, commercial lenders will want to know about the nature of the business, how many employees it will have, etc. Usually, business ventures are considered higher risk, and the lender will want to know more details about what you are doing with the property.

Property Market Value Almost Always Rises

One of the reasons it is so easy to make money in real estate is that property market value tends to rise. This is not always true with your own home, but when it comes to investing, realty projects are great money makers.

The reason is simple. There will always be an ever-increasing demand for housing, whether for individuals or businesses. This means that both residential and commercial real estate investment property will increase their property market value over time. On average, these types of properties consistently appreciate in value.

This doesn’t mean that a bad investment can’t financially destroy you. You still have to choose wisely. When looking at commercial real estate, there are many factors to take into account, like the business’s projected income, local zoning laws and taxes, and the location of the property. In general, residential real estate investment grows slowly and steadily as compared to commercial real estate. The appreciation is slower, but there is less risk involved.

Getting Started

You can get an investment property mortgage loan from a variety of sources, but most people use banks. This is especially true for first time ventures. Before you go in, decide what you can realistically afford to pay on your mortgage. Bring all of your credit information with you and be ready to start the long process of dealing with your loan officer. Also remember that you can always shop around if you don’t think you’re getting a good deal.