Who cried when the fishing,cotton,steel industries were killed off? The Music Industry?

when an industry goes toe’s up, plebs are told to move on, move home, learn new trades etc,

the internet could mean the end of Newspapers and an end of the music industry.

There was a time when we had no newspapers, relying on troubadour’s, towncrier’s and vaeious itinerant’s.

It wasn’t so long ago that musicians and singer’s relied on performance money, whilst song-writer’s relied on sheet music sales.

Just because we have enriched these people in the past, by providing a market for their goods, that doesn’t mean that they have a right to demand that we maintain them in the manner to which thet have become accustomed.

I still take newspapers but when greenies start demanding that I pay to dispose of them, I may stop. On the other hand, when broadband etc. charges begin being ramped up, I may bear that extra cost. The decision will and should be mine.

I’m not into modern music, except for the odd rare piece but I feel no sympathy for those who complain that downloads are destroying the music industry.

It’s obviously better for me to be able to play “my music” at home and in comfort, rather than attend a gig, or aconcert (don’t feel the need to mix with fellow devotee’s).

The invention’s of the pianola, musical box, sheet music, phonograph, vinyl records, tapes and discs have all been wonderful addition’s to the quality of life.

Digital music allows us to carry a vast array of music, or even video’s around with us but what does the music industry demand?

We should either buy a cabin trunk to carry cd’s with a smaller selection of such music, or we should be forced to pay over and over again for streamed versions of the music, never actually owning anything.

Interestingly, it’s a similar business model to that of prostitutes, except that it’s possible to clone the music.

If it was possible to clone what prostitutes sell, I doubt the whore or porn industries would last long at the same level of saturation, but the music industry can rely on fandom and the need of teenager’s to practise falling hopelessly in love.

Musicians can still earn a living by live performances and the sale of “artwork” etc.

Newspapers can convert to selling sheet music and specialist services.

Whatever happens, I feel no guilt about not supporting the call for public/state intervention to maintain their income stream.