Copyfighter Donna Wentworth points to an interview with Dave Kusek and Gerd Leonhard, authors of The Future of Music. From the interview:
The battle for distribution and delivery of music is just about over, because pretty soon the digital availability of music anytime anywhere will become a default (in away, it already is!). EXPOSURE and DISCOVERY will then emerge as the biggest must-haves in the future -- just getting the right user to pay attention to you. Music will "feel like free" and will flow like water -- everybody gets music, everybody pays but it will still "feel like free."
I think the "success" of AllOfMP3.com, a site of questionable legality, definitely suggests that people are willing to pay for music that is ubiquitously accessible. In many ways, the problem is related to the DRM solutions that don't work. Worse yet, when they fail, they err on the side of no access - which might make sense to the rightsholders, but sure doesn't make sense for the consumers.
The book sounds very interesting, especially with endorsements by both Donna and Larry Lessig. I just ordered it, but I'm guessing I won't get to it before the end of the semester.
