Comment by Jim Carruthers

Wed, 21 Jan 2004 18:15:45 EST

The future of music and file sharing? It ain't the RIAA, it is roll your own:

CARLSBAD, Calif., January 21, 2004—NAMM, the International Music Products Association, today announced final registration and exhibitor numbers for the association's recently concluded four-day NAMM Show in Anaheim. �At show close, NAMM reported an astonishing 10 percent increase in overall registration for a grand total of 74,236 registrants. �The organization previously announced breaking the all-time record of exhibitors with 1,340 companies exhibiting at this year's NAMM Show. At the 2004 gathering, themed "Believe in Music," the record crowds marveled at the latest musical instruments and products, attended valuable business-building seminars and saw many artists and celebrities, all while experiencing the sunny weather and warm hospitality of Southern California. ... The International Music Products Association, commonly called NAMM in reference to the organization's popular NAMM trade shows, is the not-for-profit association that unifies, leads and strengthens the $16 billion global musical instruments and products industry. NAMM's activities and programs are designed to promote music making to people of all ages.

The music making market continues to grow, and with the addition of software like Garageband, a new market is being created.

Satisfied with your opus? Export to iTunes for instant access from your iTunes music library. In fact, iTunes 4.2 automatically creates a playlist in your name. See, you're famous already. From there you can burn it to a CD, transfer it to your iPod or use it in one of your iPhoto, iMovie or iDVD projects just like any other song in iTunes.

Look how long the majors ignored hip-hop. The new music market is all about using the network to make and distribute music using P2P sharing.

Comment by BB

Wed, 21 Jan 2004 17:23:42 EST

If I peer into my crystal ball it tells me there will always be a market for free file sharing. Even when pay-per-use downloading goes mainstream, free file sharing will be continue to be a useful medium for new musicians to promote their wares.

Comment by Al Barger

Wed, 21 Jan 2004 14:14:05 EST

Also, consider that the "legal" services are in many cases offering the stuff they DO offer in various restricted forms and formats, wma and copy-protected crap, even if you're willing to pay. That makes these pay files distinctly inferior to what you can get for free every day on the net.

Comment by Mark Saleski

Wed, 21 Jan 2004 13:25:16 EST

i see a story at cnn indicating that 532 more people have been sued.

Blogcritics: Comments on Guaranteeing the File-Sharing Future

Comment by Jim Carruthers

Comment by BB

Comment by Al Barger

Comment by Mark Saleski