Monday’s final panel is the eagerly anticipated, Nokia-sponsored “Digital Mobile Technology 360: Left To My Own Devices.” The stage is certainly the most crowded it’s been all day: in addition to moderator Ted Cohen of TAG Strategic, there is a total of 10 other panelists overall, including ilike.com/garageband.com CEO/Co-Founder Ali Partovi; Music.com CEO Billy Dutton; Google Strategic Partnership Development Manager Chris Barton; imeem Founder/CEO Dalton Caldwell; eMusic President/CEO David Pakman; former Yahoo! Music VP Video & Media Applications Ian Rogers (who just left the company to join startup Topspin); Greenberg, Traurig LLP Partner Jay Cooper; Warner Bros. Records VP New Media Jeremy Welt; Mediaguide Sr. VP Strategic Alliances & Marketing Paul Wright; and Dell-TING VP Business Development Rachna Bhasin.
When you pause to think about it, the sheer exponential growth of technology over the last 30 years is truly amazing…and the opportunities for those in the music business have never been greater. A significant portion of future revenue will most likely be derived from mobile devices–not just ringtones, but audio and video downloads, etc. The ten panelists assembled on the stage today are each at the forefront of their respective fields, whether it’s the development of revolutionary software, the creation of new devices to get music into the hands of consumers or the increasingly thorny area of new media and digital law.
Speaking of which…some of the licensing horror stories being related by the panel illustrate just how thorny that area will probably become. For example: what’s the difference between a mobile device and a laptop–and as the technology advances and the differences between the two become increasingly negligible, how will one legally differentiate between the two media?
Another issue: is the RIAA’s propensity to sue first, and ask questions later, a major stumbling block for the “bedroom entrepreneurs” continually creating new apps for the distribution of music? Imeem’s Dalton Caldwell knows first-hand, as he was sued by the body while still in negotiations with a variety of licensing partners…negotiations which were ultimately successfully consummated despite the suit.
While the possible pitfalls are many, the rewards to be reaped are great…hopefully, the technology, legal and licensing issues can be quickly resolved in order for all to participate in this potential bonanza.
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