If you're going to die, get the money up front

According to the CBC, a CRIA report indicates that people who download music, also tend to buy more music. While this has generated some talk on the blogs. It is really no suprise to anyone, except perhaps that the same thing found to be true elsewhere is true in Canada as well. Alot of studies have shown the same thing.

So does the recording industry just not get it? Are they stupid? Absolutely not. You don't get that rich and keep the money that long by being dumb. They are just greedy. They know that all of their law suits and lobbying is alienating their customers, but it doesn't matter. They need the money now because, I believe, the recording industry gets what most of the broadcast industry does not. The days of the middle man are nearly over. In 10-15 years (or less) people will only distribute what they create. There will be no need for syndication, or affiliates to rebroadcast because with EOD (Everything on Demand) there will be no need. Why sell to a distributor who will then sell it to customers when you can charge less, make more and distribute (everything from books to music to episodic 'television' to feature films) directly to your customers - anywhere in the world? That's why the recording industry needs it's money now and that's why the CBC must soon produce most, if not all, of it's own programming if it hopes to survive.