What many economists say will be the effects of rapid, easy access to information brought on by increasingly more sophisticated communications technology and information technology (what we will see in the next 50 to 100 years): 1) We will pay a predetermined rate to access music and listen to it. Sales of physical cds/tapes will be a thing of the past (as well as the cd player). 2) Per item number one, we will have access to thousands and thousands of recordings. 3) It will be easier for less popular musicians to be accessed by their "niche" markets due to item number two. Indie fans take note. 4) It will be easier for anyone to make an intricate recording and put it on the web for access by others. 5) The big money is not in listening rights (analogous to record sales today) but in artists using their celebrity to market other products. Record companies are hesitant to change because they have a proven business model in existence. Eventually, they will be forced to change due to the increased prevalence of music (due to Napster and others like it). Remember, as something becomes more prevalent, it becomes less valuable! Obviously, it is easier and easier to reproduce and transmit music (and knowledge, too) these days. But, at the same time, these technology innovations have created and will create many more opportunities for celebrity - many more opportunities to use what they have that is of value - celebrity. How this will relate to groups of a similar popularity to Belle & Sebastian, well, aside from items number two and three above, it really doesn't affect them. Groups like this will only be able to capitalize on their celebrity to the extent of their celebrity. Obviously, the groups that appeal to the masses will be able to exploit their celebrity to the highest degree. Sorry to bore you all about this - send your medical bills to me. Cheers, Paul +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the undead Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list mail sinister@missprint.org. To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to majordomo@missprint.org. WWW: http://www.missprint.org/sinister +-+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" "tech-heads and students" +-+ +-+ "the cardie wearing biscuit nibbling belle & sebastian list" +-+ +-+ "sinsietr is a bit freaky" - stuart david, looper +-+ +-+ "pasty-faced vegan geeks... and we LOST!" - NME April 2000 +-+ +-+ "peculiarly deranged fanbase" "frighteningly named +-+ +-+ Sinister List organisation" - NME May 2000 +-+ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+