Long awaited, but things have been moving frantically along - for example, I’ve just decided to move on from my current job

The Content Providers (CPs):

Out of everyone in the value chain, the content providers do hold a huge responsibility for opening/developing the digital music landscape. (Especially for mapping out the legitimate market)

Why?

If anyone wants to license content, they would have to first contact the content providers, e.g. music, movie, games etc.

Before technology solution vendors, i.e. Siemens Networks, Sony Ericsson Networks, Groove Mobile, 24-7, MusicNet etc “sell” their E2E solution; they will need to seek the content providers’ approval of the overall architecture deployment, the use cases associated with the content and the DRM technology individually.

In any case, content providers hold all the confidential information first hand-on what’s the latest business model and technology. It makes no sense, at least to me, why SonyBMG and Warner Music Group (WMG) would jointly invest in Access China Media Solutions on the pretence of learning more about the DRM technology.

Leaving aside the current DRM hot topic aside (EMI, Steve Jobs etc) - and the already much publicised difficulty of licensing content (MotoMusic, Last.fm etc), the labels do have a huge say on developing the digital music landscape.

As the keeper of artists’ interest, I would be more interested in the business model, the transparency of the system (i.e. reporting standard) and especially the distribution channel. Yet, in all my dealings with the labels, the bottom line question has been:

• What’s the revenue share?
• What about the advance payment?
• And, don’t forget about the minimum guarantee payment?

Is it right to use the above parameters to decide on a rather new born industry? What have the labels done to develop the digital market, other than, digitalizing their collection and opening it up for business???!!! Even then, the labels only started “developing” the potential of this business 3-4 years ago - when I believe I’ve been downloading and listening to MP3s for over a decade now.

Who pointed the way of digital music? And how have we shown our appreciation?