This is the key issue for me, are we going to see the same old tired policies or a new wave of peaceful methods to urge folks to purchase their music from the labels ?
http://www.p2pnet.net/story/16607Sony BMG, a member of the Big 4 organised music cartel, has just swallowed BMG.
It, “took full control of the music company behind Elvis Presley and Oasis today, buying out its partner Bertelsmann in a deal valuing the world’s second largest music company at $2.4 billion (£1.2 billion),” says Times Online, going on: “The sale price is towards the bottom of the range that Bertelsmann hoped for, although the poor state of the recorded music business and the German group’s desire to exit the industry put pressure on the price.
Last year, a a European private equity firm run by Guy Hands bought Britain’s EMI for £2.4 billion ($4.7 billion).
I suppose a pun abou "changing hands" would be ok to shoe horn in here but the really important aspect of these take-overs is that the companies are still not taking on board the potential market for their frozen assets namely the back catalogues packed with hits we all know and love, should those be released at a more than reasonable rate then its a win win situation all round, artists and labels benefit, sitting on them in the hope the copyright laws can be extended is the mindset of the moronic, if folks want to purchase music then do yourselves a favour labels and deliver the goods.
