tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12263366.post1760932990746073328..comments2023-08-10T12:30:07.083-07:00Comments on Post-cocious: The Music Business: The Future is Bright, The End Is NighAnuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10681387485517846478noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12263366.post-52459760378713960312009-01-13T08:55:00.000-08:002009-01-13T08:55:00.000-08:00Copyright law will change. It's inevitable.There w...Copyright law will change. It's inevitable.<BR/><BR/>There will be compulsory licensing at statutory rates for sound recordings (either by law or de facto) - the only question is when. Probably more like 5-10 years.<BR/><BR/>I'll be writing some more about that soon.<BR/><BR/>As for the future, Ray, "professional" musicians will derive less revenue from selling music. They'll charge their fans more (making the hardcore fans who are willing to pay make up the loss from casual fans) directly or indirectly, and they'll look for other less-piratable revenue sources.<BR/><BR/>A good example is the web cartoon Achewood. The cartoon is free every day. The author derives revenue from selling t-shirts and books of the cartoons. And he'll even customize the books with a personal dedication and cartoon for an additional fee.Anuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10681387485517846478noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12263366.post-42769054864957431232009-01-13T07:24:00.000-08:002009-01-13T07:24:00.000-08:00Wow, what a great article! You've clearly pointed ...Wow, what a great article! You've clearly pointed out some very important social mechanisms in play that deserve some re-examination. In particular, the connection you describe between technological innovation, law, and incentive (behavior) is striking. It has me wondering what the optimal re-arrangement is for the tools of today. How can the (truly) popular professional musician play for their meals? Any speculations? Based on your article, I'm thinking that Rhapsody may be positioned to better outstand iTunes in the test of time.<BR/><BR/>Most of all, I am heartened by the last section of your article, "The Future". Bring it on home! Let's make it happen... I hear you've got a great music salon :-)<BR/><BR/>~~~<BR/><BR/>WE are the music-makers, <BR/>And we are the dreamers of dreams, <BR/>Wandering by lone sea-breakers, <BR/>And sitting by desolate streams; <BR/>World-losers and world-forsakers,<BR/>On whom the pale moon gleams: <BR/>Yet we are the movers and shakers <BR/>Of the world for ever, it seems. <BR/> <BR/>With wonderful deathless ditties <BR/>We build up the world's great cities,<BR/>And out of a fabulous story <BR/>We fashion an empire's glory: <BR/>One man with a dream, at pleasure, <BR/>Shall go forth and conquer a crown; <BR/>And three with a new song's measure<BR/>Can trample an empire down. <BR/> <BR/>We, in the ages lying <BR/>In the buried past of the earth, <BR/>Built Nineveh with our sighing, <BR/>And Babel itself with our mirth;<BR/>And o'erthrew them with prophesying <BR/>To the old of the new world's worth; <BR/>For each age is a dream that is dying, <BR/>Or one that is coming to birth. <BR/><BR/>~ Ode<BR/>Arthur O'Shaughnessy. 1844–1881https://www.blogger.com/profile/09373340241042696955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12263366.post-53310935845345081802009-01-11T08:12:00.000-08:002009-01-11T08:12:00.000-08:00I agree with a lot of what you have outlined here....I agree with a lot of what you have outlined here. I have said for several years now that copyright provides the copyright owner the ability to do two things; it allows the owner to control how their works are used and it helps enable them to get paid for the use of those works. It is going to be a tough pill to swallow for many but we live in this new era where control, in many circumstances, does not exist anymore (This will be particularly difficult for European copyright owners due to the fact that they copyright laws include moral rights, which does not exist in US Copyright Law). I think the industry should focus on the later. I am certain the industry as a whole, can figure out how to fairly compensate people for the use of their creative works. This is exactly what you described above with music compositions. The industry realized they could not control the use of musical compositions so they focused on compensation. <BR/><BR/>When one considers what a musical composition is, it is nothing more than information. When one considers what a digital file of a sound recording is, it again, is nothing more than information. This is a radical shift to and industry that considered sound recordings be physical products. An industry whose main commodity is a physical product operates on completely different principles that than an industry whose main commodity is information.<BR/><BR/>Here is why this transaction will be very messy. At the core of the music business is copyright law. Copyright law is insanely complicated and inconsistent (I really recommend the book "Digital Copyright" by Jessica Litman. She discusses the history of copyright law and how it grew reactively to changes in technology. No wonder it is not consistent). As the music industry moves away from a physical product business and towards more of an information based industry, it will more and more rely on information law. Information law is even more complex and inconsistent than copyright law (I recommend the book "Shamans, Software and Spleens" by James Boyle. He explains that many of our industries, not just the entertainment industry are moving towards an information economy and information law and its history is poorly prepared to deal with shift).<BR/><BR/>The entertainment industry is like a soap opera these days. Everyday the plot thickens and in an instant can make radical plot twist. You have long time friends becoming mortal enemies, People in bed cheating on other people. I am completely hooked. I can't wait to see how things work their way out.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12565375947846913237noreply@blogger.com