RIAA2

Second: “Play only” downloads from the Internet can be made available for those who want to listen to a particular song. In this mode, songs won’t download to a hard drive, but rather will download to a media player only. Let consumers listen first to what they want to hear from an album, free, then, let them download what they want and pay for only for what they select. Consider it a new way to listen to music; similar to a radio. The major difference here is this: by making the listen first and download option available a potential sale might arise.

Internet book publishers provide this service now through their shopping baskets and the service seems to work well for them. Consumers can select and download from the Internet or go to their local retail store with a list of selections that have already been chosen and build their CD from the store faster, and maybe, I would suggest, even cheaper.

Third: Combine all music on one mega site. Consumers don’t care whether Sony, Geffen, Capitol, A&M or Atlantic produced the CD they’re interested in buying, they want the music. Need proof? Look at the success of those sites that currently trade music free. Consumers search by artist and/or title. Since the downloaded file is gong to carry a record producer’s tag, anyway, apportioning royalties among the different labels won’t be difficult. If the industry fails to make their songs and titles available as Napster and others do, on one site, the industry will suffer because the demand for a search vehicle that lets you shop by artist/title, as utilized by consumers, won’t be addressed. For instance: if someone is searching for a soundtrack album, they probably don’t want to search several sites to see which recording company produced it. They want to type in the name of the soundtrack, expecting it will be available by name.

Fourth: In the absence of the industry creating a mega site of its own, use the legal victories that have accumulated not to shut down Internet sites such as Napster, but require that all Internet music sites provide their music in “play only” formats, still free, with the option to create a CD and own it, for a nominal price.

Conclusion:
The Industry shouldn’t fight innovative trends, but rather be thankful for them. This is not the same as saying don’t fight to protect copyrights; rather it means don’t fight the technology and innovation that comes from the marketplace. Consumers are sending a clear signal that there is a healthy and growing market for digital downloading. I am simply recommending that this digital technology (1) be expanded to record stores, and (2) that it be employed free of charge for in home use in a “play only” format over the Internet, allowing people to pick the selections they like, and create their own CDs. Smart stores have already installed listen before you buy stations, and the cost is going to be widely offset by sales. That, is the way to go. Not lawsuits that will only invite backlash, or worse, BOYCOTTS!

Do I think these recommendations will end pirating of copyrighted music? No! On the other hand, does anyone really believe industry generated lawsuits will prevent consumers worldwide from finding a way of getting the music they want?