The New 'Virtual' Music Industry

Because of the advances in file sharing via the internet, music downloads account for a vast majority of modern day music piracy. It has gotten to the point where artists and record labels are actually suing kids!

But although what they did isn't right, it's not totally the downloader's fault either. You see, many years ago, when music artists came out with an album, you could put it in, push play, and let the whole record play non-stop. When you went to spend your hard-earned money, you got your money's worth.

Today's music world however, is made up of what I would call, 'music cheaters.' These are music labels and artists who throw bait out to the fishes with one hit song, entice them to go and buy the album, only to be disappointed that none of the other songs on the album were good...at all!

After all of the high profile lawsuits that occurred over the 'crimes' of music downloads, Apple introduced a model in which fans could download individual songs of their favorite artists, one by one. Apple is also the company who introduced the revolutionary ipod mp3 player, completely changing the way that people listen to music and travel with it.

Both of these things worked together flawlessly; a form of downloading legal music, although not for free, and a means of playing this music with you wherever you go, without hauling around a bunch of CD's.

However, this did not fix the problem of fans downloading music by unlawful means. It actually still continues to grow. So as the biggest major record labels now sit in the red trying to figure out how to keep from going extinct like the dinosaurs, music goes on.

For years, television and radio has made its programs available to watchers and listeners for free, while generating their profits and revenues from the advertising that surrounds it. Their success didn't depend on how many people 'bought' their program.

All the television and radio networks had to do was come up with something that kept people tuning in and staying. It seems that they've never suffered the type of blood bath that the record labels are going through right now, so why hasn't this model been tried in the music industry?

Why is it so difficult for these labels to let go and try the concept of letting users listen to music for free, and even offer free music downloads, while capturing revenue from advertisers who are thrilled to put their brand in front of these targeted users?

It seems that it would make sense, considering that the piracy of music is actually a good thing for the artist, but a terrible thing for the record labels. This is because, most of the CD sale revenues go to the record companies and not the artist, but the artists, especially newer artists, make most of their money from touring and performing.

So actually, the music downloads works out well for the artist because it spreads their music and name around, which builds their fan-base and helps them sell out shows!

That's right I said it! The music industry will soon become a model in which users get to listen to music for free and even get access to free music downloads via the internet, at the expense of the companies who advertise and sponsor the artist/songs, in order to take advantage of the name-brand of the artist.

Case in point; if you are an up and coming artist, then it is extremely important that you create quality music and build your brand! There is going to come a time where the playing field will be filled with players from major labels, as well as players who have no label, and you will either stand up and take a piece, or get a piece broke off of you.

This new model will make the industry better, because artists will have more creative control to create truly good music that comes from the soul, instead of creating what the record labels force them to make. This will also allow artists from both sides to make a decent living creating beautiful music for the rest of the world to enjoy.

Music fans will enjoy, without limitation, the wonderful creations that come out, and hopefully the days where you can play the whole album through will come back.

Companies will be happy because they will be able to launch laser-targeted ad campaigns that generate better returns on investment, while the fans will be a bit more receptive to seeing ads information about things that they are actually interested in.

I call the new industry that will arrive 'virtual' because it will all take place inside a digital world where everyone from all over the world can be in the same place participating among each other at the same time.

There will come a time when you will be able to 'attend' concerts and participate with other concert goers, from the comfort of your home computer.

There is so much more to say in regards to this, but I must save some of it exclusively for the users of JamBuzzer.

So if you are further interested in becoming a part and participating in this new future industry, whether you are a music artist or a music lover who just loves to listen, then visit JamBuzzer.com