David Emery Online

Music is not like water

6 May 2009

Well, it turns out every generation gets its own version of flying cars—a certain-sounding vision of future technology based on a vigorously embraced present technology, which passing time eventually reveals to be both laughable and impossible. At the end of the 21st century’s first decade, the internet seems particularly susceptible to the flying car syndrome, with all sorts of zippy schemes gaining traction within our net-addled culture.

With the music industry in conspicuous disarray, it’s no surprise to see flying cars promised as inexorable destiny. There are three particular models of flying car most prominently advertised these days by the music industry’s loudest and most insistent hucksters. These are: 1) The “Free Music” model […] 2) The “Access” model […] 3) The “Music-Like-Water” model.

A very interesting – albeit long – article on potential music revenue models. I’m not sure if I agree 100% with the conclusions – I imagine that most of these models will, while probably not becoming the dominant music consumption model, carve out a decent sized niche – but it’s well worth a read.