1. On balance, what are the biggest challenges and benefits to the music industries that come from digital communication and distribution?
With the internet, the music industry biggest challenge is piracy as it is more difficult to controlled content online with the P2P networking. Also music industries have to deal the fact the internet is placing studio label in critical position as the internet is a way to diffuse music for free.
When a single is uploaded on the internet before the label, it is a huge loss for the studio as people can download the song so, they used more controlled measure to prevent people from downloading in term of copyright infringement. The music industry needs to review their strategies to engage more with the audience instead of hindering them from it.
Benefits of for the music industry, comes with the increase of visibility and also information about the segment audience when it comes to online purchasing
2. Do current laws adequately address the affordances of digital media (ie do they account for what web media can actually do compared to analog media forms 20 years ago)?
With the P2P network, it is very difficult to monitor the content online especially with music due to the disintermediation. Music is shifting for physical products like tape and CD’s to a service of digital format and platforms. 20 years ago the analog media was more about tapes and video but with the internet it is more about the increase of connectedness.
3. Is radio a dying form in the face of iPods, iPhones and a million other devices capable of playing personalised musical playlists?
It is undeniable that technologies are taking the place of traditional media. The variety of devices which are on the market, help in the production of music but also record the program that the person need. In this article Berry 2008, suggest the podcasting is impeding on the portability, intimacy and accessibility of the online radio. It’s true the podcasting is more accessible as people can download the program they want and them listen to it later or do their own playlist which is more intimate for them. In term of radio broadcasting, podcast has had an impact on the way people listen now. Before they were trying to listen when a program was broadcasted live, but now they can download the program they want through software and the listen to it. For radio, it is a real challenge as they have to review the way they distributes and produce program for people to listen.
Radios, must always find genuine way to engage and get the attention of their audience so that they can always get the live participation of the audience. I think that there will always be the loyal listen to live radio broadcasting and thus to keep this segment of audience, there will be more participation from the audience. If people don’t listen to radio live, there will be no interaction between the presenters and the audience thus will be no entertainment.