Below are Goldring’s eight steps. Below the steps are the reactions of various industry players, both pro and con, which we will update as the dialog progresses.
FRED GOLDRING’S EIGHT STEPS TO MUSIC-BUSINESS RECOVERY
INDUSTRY REACTION
Attorney Gary Stiffelman: "I feel that too much effort is being spent on litigation and not enough on technological solutions. There are ways to use Kazaa and other file-sharing networks to make money, but until the consumer cannot get music for free, the problem must be [solved] through technology. Solutions that encrypt CDs are a dead-end, but antipiracy measures that attack file-sharing from another perspective should—and must—be pursued.
"The only way to educate consumers is by suing a few of the bad eggs on a random basis. This is exactly like the IRS audit process. You can lead people in the right direction by a combination of the carrot and the stick; neither alone will work. The problem thus far is that the carrot is insufficiently appealing to migrate the file-sharers to the alternative forms of downloadable music—the price is too high and the usage restrictions too arcane and draconian.
"Fred has done a good job of pointing out the problems, which we all are fairly conversant with. What he has failed to do is address the central dilemma, which is to make money from commerce in a commodity which is available free of charge to millions of potential customers. Maybe the solution is to change to a nickle per download, or a $5 per month all-you-can-eat formula, or something else that Fred might be thinking about. In order to complete his analysis, he needs a ninth step. It would be nice to see some analysis of how to get past the current dilemma."
Attorney Doug Marks, Barnes, Morris, Klein, Mark, Yorn, Barnes & Levine: "Without splitting hairs, I would suggest that only #8 sets forth a constructive point. The big issue starts with that—i.e. a discussion of the monetizing of peer-to-peer networks. Eg. Do we do an ASCAP/BMI-type sampling system? Whereby file sharing sites pay annual fees? I strongly disagree about his views on the freeloaders—piracy will be marginalized in the new world (unless people such as Fred continue to argue its moral/legal acceptability)."
THE COUNT: COLDPLAY IS HOT, COUNTRY'S COOKIN' IN THE U.K.
The latest tidbits from the bustling live sector (3/28a)
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THE NEW UMG
Gosh, we hope there are more press releases.
TIKTOK BANNED!
Unless the Senate manages to make this whole thing go away, that is.
THE NEW HUGE COUNTRY ACT
No, not that one.
TRUMP'S CAMPAIGN PLAYLIST
Now 100% unlicensed!
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