This is one of a lot of new technologies that will be great for consumers, and tough on the established music business model. Apple's IPod is another. The big record companies are going to start crying foul, as people have more and more say over what music they choose to purchase. Gone are the days of forking out 13 to 18 dollars for a CD with one good song on it. If that happens, folks will just swap that one good song over the net. I know that breaks a few laws, but unless you are a diehard fan of the artist, your not going to fork out that kind of money for one good song. Artists and labels will soon recognize this and will be forced to write collections of music that consumers want to pay for. I expect the quality of music in all mediums to go up. It will be more like the good old days before every music outlet was controlled by the music industry.
Just my opinions of course.
Walt
|