It's not about the recording industry imposing a standard on technology companies. Show me the money Aided by open standards such as MP3, the Internet provides an ideal platform for streamlining various processes that comprise the value chain of a given industry, eventually lowering prices for consumers. That said, it seems the record industry may be more concerned with maintaining good relationships with increasingly powerful retailers than with providing better value to its customer base through the use of innovative technology. The possibilities, in fact, are impressive. Through a quick search on the Net you'll find several hundred online communities focused on music and artists.
Live performances are another example.
Currently, fans are confined by the geographical location of a concert. But you can be sure that an hour after the show an MP3 recording of the concert will be online. The player was an overnight success. For now, I have the power supply, inverter, and hard drive rubber banded together on the floor. At least now people can sit in my front seat again.