Read a rather interesting interview between David Byrne and Thom Yorke, discussing In Rainbows and the revolution in the business of music. Digital downloads!
The phenomenon of file sharing [the ethics of which are trawled through here] has rocked the industry, mostly because it was such a cosy, locked-in business model that the bright and the overpaid panicked, rather than because file sharing was offering a viable alternative source of the full range of music products. This full range is where people, with resources to exploit, need to be looking to grow their service portfolio...let's not forget, all they do is provide a service. Music is an auditory experience, packaging and distribution is a service. Record companies need to let go of the idea that they actually own music. That was never their function until they overstepped their mark. If file sharing sank all the old industry dinosaurs and evolved a new breed, it wouldn't be too soon.
But partisanship aside, let's be constructive and try to think of some ways the music industry can save itself, without crucifying everyone else in the world [the rough population of those who will eventually become file sharers].
How about a model where fans go to a concert and download the whole experience to their mobile wireless digital storage devices, whatever form they may take? The performance itself becomes a digital saleable commodity, one that can be traded online afterward. The concert DVD already does this, of course, but it seems very exciting and attractive to me that it would be instantly available and personalised (concert DVD's are usually only filmed in one location from a tour, this would be every location and be automatically the location the fan attended).
The ticket cost pays for the music, so ticket costs would have to go up (costs of putting on the show have to be covered).
However, maybe if the tickets were paid for by account debit or credit (or credit card), then they could form a binding contract on the buyer, and songs from the show recorded by the buyer could be digitally watermarked to allow detection of widespread distribution. I dunno, this is getting a bit like DRM...
Nevertheless, this is an inventive scheme, and it's invention that is needed as we have a real necessity to reinvent or replace the dinosaurs and bridge the gap between affordable music and sufficient revenue to produce it.
Let the music out - that's what's really needed.
2 comments:
Tangent.
Music is gradually being freed. Amazon has definitely picked up and looks like last.fm has followed suite:
http://blog.last.fm/2008/01/23/free-the-music#
[Damn, I can't seem to comment on the Dawkin's post for some reason. It's just not responding to my clicks. If you can move this comment there, that would be great - thanks!]
The conventional defining trait of prophets, as opposed to say, visionaries, is that they display *wisdom*. This is a trait Dawkins lacks, so I can't see him as a prophet at all... :)
However, that is not to say that he can't found a potentially disastrous cult, of course. You don't need any wisdom at all to found a cult, nor to have it go horribly wrong. >:)
Dawkins is a smart, one might even say *Bright* man, but there is more wisdom to be found in a pair of shoelaces than in his usual dogma.
It might be helpful for him forgive the vicar who (foolishly) sold him the teleological argument for God in his childhood (despite this having been shot through of holes for centuries) so he can move on emotionally. This chip on his shoulder is visible from space! :D
If the world needs "Atheist Pride" then what it needs is atheists who can sell atheism on its *strengths* - not anti-theists who will try to convert people to their beliefs by trashing "the opposition".
Who knows - perhaps you are such an atheist. ;)
Best wishes!
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