Topic: Bono gave me an idea...

[Bonk]

You may have read about Bono's pronouncement recently:
http://www.cbc.ca/arts/music/story/2010/01/03/bono-internet.html

Well, this calls for a new ISP business model. One that works kind of like a record label. Artists sign with the ISP.

Do I have any investors?     (huge buyouts from Geffen, EMI etc, will be considered as received.. )

[Nemesis]

"The only thing protecting the movie and TV industries from the fate that has befallen music and indeed the newspaper business is the size of the files," he wrote.

I take it this is the "fate" that has the movie industry making record profits on their theater releases last year?  Like how poorly the RIAA did (record profits) during the Napster peak? 

The musician claims the technology is available to track and prevent illegal downloading, noting efforts in China which limit its populace from freely accessing the internet.

Like the software that has sent DMCA take down notices (legal only in the U.S.) to a laser printer and to a German University (for hosting OpenOffice which was mistakenly identified as MS Office)?

Message to the old business models, buggy whips are out of style so adapt to the new reality.

Message to Bono himself:  Reform the music industry so that when a artist believes they are being underpaid they don't have to pay for the audit if it is proven that they are right.  Also fix it so when they do so prove it they get paid ALL they are owed without a lawsuit instead of the typical "we will give you x% of what we owe you or  you can sue for it all and end up paying it all to your lawyers". 

Short form of the message: Fix the corruption in the music industry that rips off the artists and they will make money

If I recall correctly back in the 1990s a study of 9000 audits in the music industry found that over 99.9% of artists had been underpaid and 1 (1 artist not 1%) had been over paid.  This to me looks like rampant systematic ripping off of the artists by the companies that together form the RIAA and scream "Think of the ARTISTS" while fighting for tougher laws for copyright.

[Bonk]

True, true and true. But when has the law or business had anything to do with truth?

They will sing this song no matter what under current distribution models. Eliminate corruption in business? While I admire your ethics, sadly I do not think that is realistic. (yet)

My idea would completely usurp the current model. I think it is a good one. Just wait, somebody with the money to start up will do it. It will work - and is an RIAA/MPAA killer. (actually that is why it will never happen at least without quite a number of well placed assassinations - which is obviously not an acceptable solution...)

[Nemesis]

I think that the solution is simpler.

Technology is rapidly making it easier and cheaper for musicians to create their own high quality music without a label backing them.  It is also making it easier for them to distribute it without a label.  The only thing left is advertising and that can be overcome (consider the Blair Witch Project).

The RIAA is obsolete and their obsolescence becomes worse each day.

One thing that really disgusts me is when an artist becomes wealthy and powerful enough to form their own label and then does to others as was done to them.