This is an area that bears watching in the future. Most of the attention technology gets in this space is distributive technology, i.e. Napster and its ilk. But, as hinted at above, an equally important part of the revolution is technology that allows writers and artists to record their music cheaply and with excellent quality. For those who choose not to buy equipment, but purchase studio time, you can lease top-quality recording studios for hundreds, not thousands of dollars a day. The real cost associated with producing impressive records is labor, i.e. the producers, engineers, etc.
Technology allows writers and publishers to record demos at very reasonable cost.
It may not be too long before a plugger simply sends and MP3 or other compressed computer file of a song. Whether that is a good thing is debatable. The copyright laws reward creators a great measure of control over their creations. Because U.S. copyright law was designed to benefit the public, creator's monopoly is limited in several ways. So, in certain circumstances, we'll let other people use your stuff without your permission, etc.