The authors offer an intriguing and somewhat utopian scenario where artists, publishers, and record labels no longer restrict access to music by demanding such high content fees. Instead, they relinquish some control over their content for a smaller piece of a bigger pie. Imagine if internet users paid $4 per month as part of their internet bill for a “blanket license” to all music content? With an estimated 167 million people online in the U.S., the resulting pool of $668 million per month could be equally split between artists, publishers, labels, and songwriters to essentially cover licensing costs. While that theory may be wishful thinking, it could also prove to be one of the best alternatives in the long run – especially given some of the downward trends that the music industry has been facing.So, if you’re an avid music fan and listener, I would highly recommend picking up this book. At just under 200 pages, it’s an ideal summer read on the train or at the beach. The authors do an excellent job of highlighting the possibilities for change in the ways that we consume and think about music. Within just a few more years, the authors predict that we will see captivating technological shifts that will completely rewire the music industry as we know it.
