To get a better handle on how the music industry feels about artists and consumers, you really only have to listen to how the music industry articulates itself. Here's a quote from an NYT article about Martin Bandier, co-CEO of EMI, from a music industry rep who was apparently trying to be flattering:
Marty has been relentless at finding new opportunities to exploit music.
The article describes Bandier taking time out from his appreciation of a Broadway show to check on whether music in the show had been completely permissioned, setting up deals for royalty payments on ring tones, and helping to market "a hound dog in yellow slicker that warbles 'Singing in the Rain'." EMI now makes more than half of its income on licensing (with actual album/CD sales making up the rest of the minority). One more telling quote:
Posted by johndanseven at April 24, 2006 12:33 AMMr. Bandier said he was not musically inclined as a child, although his dream was to grow up to be a member of the Temptations.
"That didn't work out," he said. "But it doesn't matter now because I own all of their stuff."