Last Battle Of The 20Th Centery Essays - Music, Business

Last Battle Of The 20Th Centery Call it the last battle of the twentieth century, or the first battle of the next millennium. But don't short-sell the importance of the battle raging between the music performers and big record labels. The battlefield is the Internet, and at stake is who controls the distribution of music. In the old days, the process went like this: singer to record label to distributor to retailer to media outlet (including dance clubs) to consumer. But advances in technology create what consultants call--hold your lunch, kids--a paradigm shift. Check it: artist to web site to consumer. Sure, the record label could have a say on this issue, but artists--including some of the more vocal critics of the music industry--have started distributing music through this process. The technology breakthrough is called MP3/MP4. For those of you who just said huh? here's a quick primer: Moving Picture Expert Group Audio Layer 3, or MP3, is an open format that allows Internet users to download CD-quality audio clips. MP3 is an exceptional piece of work because its nearest competitor, RealAudio, is not nearly as clear-sounding. In order to play music using MP3, you need to download an MP3 player to plug-in to your operating system. Approximately five million of these players have been downloaded. MP4 is now available, and it allows for further compression so the files can be e-mailed. MP3, MP4, and the next generation of fat-pipe ware will fundamentally change how music is distributed to the masses. In a March 1999 interview with Wired magazine, Public Enemy frontman Chuck D laid out his assault on the music industry via MP3. His record label, Def Jam, a subsidiary of Polygram, sat on the release of Bring the Noise 2000 from March 1998 until Chuck D decided to release MP3 tracks from the album on Public Enemy's web site. The suits at Polygram had a fit and demanded that the tracks be removed from the site for fear of piracy. This is why Capital Records had the Beastie Boys remove MP3 tracks from their site. You see, MP3 tracks can be duplicated and sent out. And unlike those crappy cassette tapes you might have made of your favorite CD, MP3 tracks maintain CD quality sound after duplication. The Recording Industry Association of America has announced plans for its own web-based project called the Secure Digital Music Initiative. It allows for downloads of music from a secure site that will decrease the possibility of piracy with password protection and other safety measures. Record industry executives are quick to point out that most of the MP3 files available are illegally made, depriving artists of their royalties. That's true, and no one is going to deny that piracy is an issue. But the Recording Industry Association of America's campaign to eliminate the technology smacks of selfishness: The record industry worries about losing its power. Success comes from the fans first. If someone is going to pirate something of mine, I just have to make sure to do nine or ten new things, Chuck D told Wired. Chuck D's act of defiance will eventually be seen as mighty as the Boston Tea Party, and this is what scares the music industry most. It's the redistribution of wealth for indie labels and artists. Soon you'll see a marketplace with 500,000 independent labels. The majors can co-opt all they want, but it's not going to stop the average person from getting into the game, Chuck D said. Mike Diamond, vocalist of the Beastie Boys and co-owner of Grand Royal Records, told the magazine Red Herring that the old artist-label relationship, with the artist receiving a small piece of the pie, is dying. Now, with this new technology, we'll probably see a lot more relationships where artists own everything and the labels are just fulfillment partners, Diamond said. Like Chuck D, Diamond is also less worried about the piracy issue. I don't think it's impeded us from selling records, he told Red Herring. One format doesn't really replace the other.. Small labels and artists find more freedom with MP3, but what does it mean for the consumer? According to Chuck D, it means the end of highway

Free Essays on Marketing Strategy Of Ford

Marketing Strategy of Ford Motor Company Ford Motor Company was built on superior products and that still exists today. They have an exceptional line of cars and trucks, which ranges from the Model-T to today’s Ford Focus and F-Series, the best selling car and truck in the world. Their current product line up is the strongest in their history and is still getting stronger. This year they added the new Ford Explorer, Thunderbird and Expedition in North America, Ford Fiesta in Europe, the new Lincoln Blackwood and Navigator, Land Rover Freelander and Range Rover, Jaguar X-Type, Aston Martin Vanquish, Mercury Mountaineer, and the Mazda Sport Wagon. These vehicles will help distinguish them from their competition. All of their products and services benefit from their diverse family brands. They acquired the Land Rover in 2000, 1999 they acquired Volvo and Kwik-Fit, 1989 they acquired Jaguar, 1987 they acquired Aston Martin and Hertz, and in 1979 they acquired Mazda. This all lends in a hand in building strong, lasting relationships with their customers and to help their business grow. Ford believes that a major factor in their success is their role as a positive contributor to the community. They introduced this plan in early 2000, which was to improve the fuel economy of their sports utility vehicles. They also created the Ford Rouge Center, which is an environmental restoration of their historic Rouge Manufacturing Complex. This center is a showcase for environmentally friendly manufacturing processes that can be used around the world. Ford is focusing on building relationships and growing their family. They are transforming themselves into a consumer focused team. They are changing their attitudes, behaviors, and culture so they can put the consumer first. The company is learning to view their business from a customer’s perspective to dramatically improve their products and services and start new businesses. BUILDING RE... Free Essays on Marketing Strategy Of Ford Free Essays on Marketing Strategy Of Ford Marketing Strategy of Ford Motor Company Ford Motor Company was built on superior products and that still exists today. They have an exceptional line of cars and trucks, which ranges from the Model-T to today’s Ford Focus and F-Series, the best selling car and truck in the world. Their current product line up is the strongest in their history and is still getting stronger. This year they added the new Ford Explorer, Thunderbird and Expedition in North America, Ford Fiesta in Europe, the new Lincoln Blackwood and Navigator, Land Rover Freelander and Range Rover, Jaguar X-Type, Aston Martin Vanquish, Mercury Mountaineer, and the Mazda Sport Wagon. These vehicles will help distinguish them from their competition. All of their products and services benefit from their diverse family brands. They acquired the Land Rover in 2000, 1999 they acquired Volvo and Kwik-Fit, 1989 they acquired Jaguar, 1987 they acquired Aston Martin and Hertz, and in 1979 they acquired Mazda. This all lends in a hand in building strong, lasting relationships with their customers and to help their business grow. Ford believes that a major factor in their success is their role as a positive contributor to the community. They introduced this plan in early 2000, which was to improve the fuel economy of their sports utility vehicles. They also created the Ford Rouge Center, which is an environmental restoration of their historic Rouge Manufacturing Complex. This center is a showcase for environmentally friendly manufacturing processes that can be used around the world. Ford is focusing on building relationships and growing their family. They are transforming themselves into a consumer focused team. They are changing their attitudes, behaviors, and culture so they can put the consumer first. The company is learning to view their business from a customer’s perspective to dramatically improve their products and services and start new businesses. BUILDING RE...