What it was, and where it's going: http://www.demonbaby.com/blog/2007/1...-birth-of.html

Discuss.

It's easy to say that the music industry is wrong in this, but I understand that they are just trying to protect themselves. I don't agree with their bullying tactics however. I read this blog the other day and the writer doesn't offer any solutions as to business plans that record companies can convert to. OiNK sounds great. Who wouldn't want to have access to all that music but exactly how much could you charge a month for access to that many albums? Would you have to charge on a song to song or album to album basis? If so, how would that be any better? People would still go out of their way to find the music for free. He also mentions the Radiohead "pay what you want" album. That might work for bands that are already well known and financially secure but what about everyone else? In addition to paying for the studio time needed to record, bands would also have to pay for the large amount of bandwidth so they could spread their music. Without record companies backing fledgling bands with the cash they need to grow, they don't stand much of a chance. It is also worth mentioning that Radiohead is now a major band in the world because they received support from record labels when they were first starting out. I absolutely believe the lawsuits are uncalled for but it is a knee jerk reaction to the fact that they can no longer control their product. I don't know what will happen in the future but it looks like the time of record labels is coming to an end.

already posted. I'm too lazy to find the link.