It’s about time!

Freshly back from a few weeks in the US and Mexico, I’ve discovered some really positive developments in the music business that have made me one happy music consumer. How happy? Let’s say as excited as Orville Redenbacher’s parents must have been when he told them he had come up with something pretty cool regarding corn.

What’s the deal? Digital music and elimination of the infamous middleman. We’ve all heard about how artists have to ‘pay the man’. Now, don’t get me wrong, we all have to eat, I just am impressed how things are progressing…and for the consumer’s (read: our) benefit!

Now if you’ve read some of my other posts, you know I’m a fan of thinking outside-of-the-box when it comes to serving the customer. Here’s some really prominent examples that just recently have taken place in the music biz:

• While in the States, I noticed Starbucks was offering digital music through a new partnership forged with Apple’s itunes (combination of specific in-store Wi-Fi connections and physical advertisement through glossy artist album cards/free song download cards handed to the customer with your purchase)!

The service made its debut at more than 600 Starbucks company-operated locations in New York and Seattle on October 2nd and what I saw in Florida really impressed me!

• Radiohead has also set a really cool precedent by offering its latest album In Rainbows as a free download earlier this month, asking only for donations. What happened? Over 1 million downloads at an average of $8 per album happened. I did the math for you…about $10 million!

  

  I agree with Seth, in that paying for mp3’s should get you into a club with continuing benefits…kinda like the gift that keeps on giving/playing!

  On a related note, Oasis (my #1) is also apparently considering the move regarding their next album. In fact, today they released their first ever digital only single ‘Lord Don’t Slow Me Down’…it’s solid, believe me!

  Given all that’s happening, I think we are about to go through some considerable change when it comes to how we, as consumers, acquire our music and enjoy it. I mean, with the advent of downloadable mp3s (illegal or otherwise), you can argue it already has. My point, things are going to get a lot better.

  Faster, smarter, and more favourable distribution channels for all involved is a win-win for both sides. What do I think this means in a bigger picture sense, though? It perhaps could represent the coffin nail for the traditional CD/DVD stores that refuse to get on board.

  For the rest of us, sit back and relax, if you’ve got a ticket, this ride’s going to be a lot of fun!

  darren