But instead of embracing this great marketing tool, they're just cheesing off their loyal fans. Napster is playing to this line of thinking masterfully. It doesn't talk about pirating files anymore. The latest version of its file-filching software has a button linking to CDnow Online, the online retailer owned by Bertelsmann. But it's the recording industry that has the long-range vision.
Music companies see a day when digital music players are as ubiquitous as CD players.
Once that happens, CD sales will sink if every song ever recorded is available for free on the Internet. Please, folks, be kind enough to leave something in the tip jar on your way out. That would be totally cool. Todd Spangler is Matrix Editor at Interactive Week. Then subscribe to the IAW E-Mail Alert.