Sunday, August 19, 2007

TheStreet.Com: "Music Labels Might Still be Shorts"

Interesting July article I just came across on investment website, RealMoney.com at TheStreet.com:

Music Labels Might Still Be Shorts
By Cody Willard
RealMoney.com Contributor
7/9/2007 1:38 PM EDT

I've been highlighting the idea that content owners and producers will benefit greatly from the collapsing distribution costs provided by the Internet for more than a year. For the last few weeks, I've been trying to embrace even the music labels. Yes, the same music labels that have actually not only been unable to figure out how to monetize free and instantaneous distribution of their content but that have actually been suing those who actively steal their content.

But as the headline of my alma mater's Daily Lobo underscored this weekend, these guys who own the rights to all the quality, popular music from the last century just keep self-destructing. They're supposed to be end-user empowering.

I spent some time during my visit home last week at the University of New Mexico's Albuquerque campus, where I still unofficially hold the record for points per minute average on the Lobo basketball team. While there, I saw the headline on the student paper: "Judge's ruling doesn't dismiss RIAA's case." Seems New Mexico Federal District Judge Lorenzo Garcia denied a request to subpoena the University of New Mexico for the personal information of Internet users suspected of music piracy.

I'm sorry, but what year is it? You're telling me that in July 2007, as industry revenue has fallen double digits this year, as the entire music industry is collapsing into possible bankruptcy, these guys are still actively suing college kids trading music files?

Revolutionomics 101 dictates that those who empower, win. Those who protect, lose.....

Complete article





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