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Audiophiles will get a rare opportunity to discover the similarities and differences between SACD reproduction and the real thing at this year's Home">http://www.homeentertainment-expo.com">Home Entertainment 2003 show in San Francisco. Diversity">http://www.diversityrecords.net">Diversity Records, Ltd. has announced it will record two performances by its artists at HE2003 on June 7 (1–4:30pm).

Satellite radio services appear to be gaining sufficient market momentum to get them over the startup hump.

Several readers have been asking "What's with all of the Musical Fidelity reviews in Stereophile?" Michael Fremer fearlessly wires the Musical">http://www.stereophile.com//digitalsourcereviews/838/">Musical Fidelity Tri-Vista SACD player into his system, noting, "Overachievers tend to rankle people after a while."

Apple's unexpected initial success with its iTunes subscription music service shocked and pleased many in the music industry—and appears likely to prompt a rash of imitators.

Music sales in the US continue to decline, according to a May 8 report from the National">http://www.narm.com">National Association of Recording Merchandisers (NARM). Retails sales totaled $8.93 billion in 2002, down from the $10.46 billion reported for 2000. Most (87%) of the organization's members reported a drop in music sales last year—only 13% posted higher totals.

The music industry repeatedly points to online file trading as the explanation for its declining market. But annual sales are still well ahead of 1998's figures and several analysts note that when you take into account the economic downturn, increased competition for entertainment dollars, high CD pricing, uninspiring new music, and consumer resistance to copy protection, those negative numbers should really be">http://www.stereophile.com/news/11441/">be far worse.

Show attendees at Home Entertainment 2003, the hi-fi and home-theater event of the year, will be treated to nearly a dozen educational seminars to help guide and inform them about what and how to buy the new and sometimes confusing home audio/video and home theater products available today.