The fact remains, though, that the record industry was built upon people not being able to duplicate a record. No one owned equipment that could do that. When cassette recorders and players came into vogue, suddenly they were made with near identical copy capabilities, often incorporated into them. Strangely, the record industry in order to fight this, converted to issuing cassettes because people preferred their format out of convenience and their ability to duplicate. It seems to me, the record industry grappled with this and then the mindset of their industry seemed to become that was okay provided the copies were for personal use, only.

Then, with duplicating scaring the record industry, they changed their format to a higher quality CD and quit issuing cassettes. They also seemed to tolerate making cassettes of CD's because the quality was not the same, and we all know...annihilated the cassette format in terms of any new issues. No one owned equipment to duplicate CD's and the industry thought they had the problem solved. Which they did for quite awhile. But, then came easily obtainable CD replicating programs and then built in computer programs to burn and rip CD's. Then, digital home recording capability, lower prices, etc. etc. And, reasonably good quality to boot. And, easily obtainable, tradeable, downloadable, etc. And, now, MP3 or Wave files where a CD isn't even needed.

Perhaps, we should address what SHOULD the record industry be doing in view of all this to save itself. Or, how does one predict the industry will reformulate itself to once again turn it all into a business. I suspect, someone will figure out how. I suspect they are already putting it into action. Just look at the cash cow that Hollywood Records and Disney have at hand with their new stable of young performers using television, movies, concerts and You Tube and Google paying them royalties galore as they further make their music product more available (as they too profit from the ads they sell.) Oh, did I forget ringtones and accompanying related merchandising (books, fashion, souvenier keepsakes, special deluxe editions of DVD's, CD's.)

It is not really about the music industry being left behind. The music industry is now the entertainment and cultural industry. The ones left behind may very well be the ones who are thinking in terms of the old ways...ie. "hey, I can download a song for free that a record company already sold to me three times over in a record, cassette, and CD format. Has the world gone mad?" Fact is, we're no longer their target audience and while we're busy debating the music industry as we knew it as the record industry throws intellectual property ethics nonsense at us, it already knows that enough to keep us occupied and out of their hair as they market to their true target buying audience (which is not us), but the new multi-media consumer. Will all the archive music survive, yes? Will folk music survive? Sure. Will we occasionally buy CD's at a Starbucks...sure. Will the marketing model that Disney (aka: Disney/ABC), Hollywood Records, concert promoters, YouTube, and Google have struck gold upon become the music industry's wave of the future. Gotta think so. We're old hat to 'em, just like Mitch Miller and Lawrence Welk went out of vogue with the Beatles and the record industry didn't care. If you're not aware of the music phenomena that is going on with Disney, Hollywood Records, concerts, etc. right now then you should look into it. At this point, the biggest mania craze since Elvis, John, Paul, George, Ringo, and Michael Jackson is going on...and it isn't hip hop rap or Britney. The only question is, as it was back then, is will it last?

BTW, the new Disney stars that my 13 year old daughter has introduced me to are quite good. And, their record companies don't care if their fans take their music and television clips and make their own videos with their own storylines on Windows Movie Maker and post 'em on YouTube. Those things only further build their fan base as YouTube pays them royalties.

Its a new day in the multi-media entertainment industry. And, we're yesterday.

QM