The Beat Is Slowing For Rock

Rock 'n' roll may not be dead, but a new consumer survey showsit's losing ground to country, rap and soul.

The Recording Industry Association of America said rock 'n' rollaccounted for one-third of all music bought in the United States lastyear, down from nearly half four years ago.

The burgeoning popularity of country music and urbancontemporary, which combines rap and soul, boosted the industry to arecord $9 billion in sales during 1992, according to the annualconsumer profile by the industry group.

Country music, led by Garth Brooks, accounted for 17 percent ofmusic sales last year, the survey said.

"You might say he's an industry by himself," …