Griffin says that downloading files is a primitive delivery method that will give way to subscription-based broadcast models providing consumers ubiquitous access to their services. The flat-fee pull world is the way music is headed. Nothing is more certain, and it's happening as we speak. One big advantage to this model, said Griffin, is that it would virtually eliminate music piracy. Nobody ever offered me a pirated copy of a Seinfeld show, but look at how valuable that intellectual property is.
Nobody remembers paying for it, but they paid a little something.
The Beastie Boys' label, Grand Royal, uses Shoutcast to promote its artist lineup, and the label has plans for interviews and live broadcasts. The industry is in such a transitory period right now, and isn't concerned so much about the next three years. Marc Geiger, CEO of Artist Direct , is building a music company meant to provide a direct connection between artists and consumers, who will buy all the products they want from one central band site. He has already signed the Rolling Stones, Tom Petty, Marilyn Manson, and Korn, as well as other multiplatinum bands. Geiger agrees with Griffin's predictions about the future for online delivery, noting that both downloaded and encrypted files are a nuisance for the consumer.