I'll say first, I haven't read everyones post. Mainly just the interview and last page. That said, I'm not convinced. The bottom line will always be the foremost factor in business.

He said: The artists will come to companies like TAXI to get a 'J.D. Power' stamp of approval -- of sorts.

To me, that's a nice way of saying that they'll be running the show. As it is now with the record industry. Frankly, with services like soundclick.com and the like, who needs the record companies approval?

Yes, it's true that they have wide distribution capabilities, big P.R., and a stack of lawyers. They can help make an artist larger than life. They can break that artist as well. It will come back to their bottom line. Control over artists, their property, and money.

No offense intended. But it sounds like business as usual to me. A move to get the consumer to pay a monthly fee for the rental of non-physical media to increase the G.P. and then take a portion of the artists pie. But, artists that can't afford self promotion costs, or don't get the financial backing and support of the company will be left far down the play list, hoping that someone will come across their songs by accident. I'm sorry, but other than how the recordings are distributed, I don't see much that's new here.

I do hope that a solution is found to help the artist more. Like in the wallet. There is no doubt. Changes are coming.

Kris Karr

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/2/kriskarrmusic.htm
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/8/everywednesdaymusic.htm