File Traders Moving Further Underground
from the pushing-them-down dept
This shouldn't be a surprise to, well, anyone, but the more the RIAA fights back against file sharing, the further underground file sharing goes. The latest efforts include building in more anonymity to file sharing services, and also designing systems to make it easier to figure out which files were legitimate, and which were fakes, viruses or spyware. This is only going to continue until the recording industry stops the current self-destructive campaign and realizes it's time to embrace file sharing and figure out ways to build real business models based on file sharing. Either that, or they can wait and let others do it for them - which is what appears to be happening.
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Are you kidding?
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Re: Are you kidding?
The trick is to realize that music is a promotional item, not a good by itself. Once you realize that, plenty of business models fall into place for companies to embrace.
If you want to promote something, what better way to promote it then to use something that (a) people want and (b) doesn't cost you anything? It's FREE ADVERTISING.
The obvious question, then, is "for what?" Well... there's some evidence that file sharing does actually increase CD sales, but not everyone agrees with that. So, why not figure out something else. Already, some big stars are making more of their money through endorsements anyway... so maybe you use file sharing to make yourself popular enough to endorse Pepsi.
Or, you use it to sell more concert tickets. Or get more people to join a fan club. Or sell more t-shirts. Or... whatever creative idea a smart business can come up with.
The problem with people who say there's no possible business model surrounding free music is that they're missing the point. The music already IS free - and that's not going to go away. So, a smart business looks at that fact and tries to take advantage of it.
Your recipe is one where an industry tries to keep its head in the sand and deny the market. You can try that, but you'll fail.
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Re: Are you kidding?
Yes record companies have to change their business models and get more share of the artist revenue not just record sales but you will never make the equivalent from sponsorship, advertising etc, ergo reduced investment, reduced filtering, reduced promotion.
Thanks, but I don't want my music driven by revenues from Coca Cola and Pespi
sponsorship.
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Re: Are you kidding?
If you talk to most musicians these days, they'll admit that they make most of their money from live shows, not from CD sales. In that case, the more people who hear their music, the more likely they are to come out and see them. Most musicians already understand this.
Anyway, everyone who says they'll never make the same with alternate business models is ignoring the history of new entertainment delivery devices. It's the same complaint everyone always makes - and what they miss is that the new business model always opens up many many more ways of making money.
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A Phuzzy brain bubble
So in the view of the Digi-age, it could be stated as follows:
I go to the store and buy a book, only to find out that I own the paper and backing, but not the ink that is on the pages.
I go to the dealership to buy a car, I find that own the metal, plastic and rubber, but the steering wheel is on loan, you will have to pay a monthly fee to use that. (opps, my contract expired, guess I need to stop using the steering wheel... where did I put those vise-grips)
I go to the grocery store and buy some food, only to find it is on lease.....I think I will leave this one clean, don't want Mike breaking out the Phuzz Buster.
BEAT THAT HORSE! I THINK I SAW IT TWITCH!
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Re: A Phuzzy brain bubble
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Re: Are you kidding?
As far as going underground and being anonymous, I've just starting using rippers. Can get over 2000 songs in a day with this one. And no way to really track it, from what I can see...
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