COPYCENSE

“Even as the recording industry staggers through another year of declining sales over all, there are new signs that a democratization of music made possible by the Internet is shifting the industry’s balance of power. Exploiting online message boards, music blogs and social networks, independent music companies are making big advances at the expense of the four global music conglomerates, whose established business model of blockbuster hits promoted through radio airplay now looks increasingly outdated.

“CD and digital album sales so far this year are down 8 percent compared with the same period a year ago, according to Nielsen SoundScan data. Still, despite the slide, dozens of independent labels are faring well with steady-selling releases. Independent labels account for more than 18 percent of album sales this year – their biggest share of the market in at least five years, according to Nielsen SoundScan data.”

Jeff Leeds. The Net Is A Boon for Indie Labels. The New York Times. Dec. 27, 2005.

(Editor’s Note: The Times allows free access to their stories on the Web for seven days before sending the stories to the paper’s fee-based Archive.)

CopyCense™: K. Matthew Dames on the intersection of business, law and technology. A business venture of Seso Digital LLC.