His enterprizing and subversive ideas -during the time his book was published- are  finding more and more supporters, today, due to his good documenting but also due to the big social changes happening all over the world, simultaneously to the large advances in technology, calling upon a re-examination on ways of thinking, of those involved in the music industry.

Gerd’s article on “How to reinvent the online economy” comes as a great supplement to his letter to Lord Mandelson. In its Greek translation I point for his Greek readers in different colors  some of the point that in my humble opinion are very important in understanding the key elements of transition from the old to the new era.

Find the initial Gerd Leonhard article here and it’s translation in Greek here

You can also read his letter towards Lord Mandelson, the Priminister and Secretary State for Business, Innovation and Skills (HB), titled: “here is how to solve the Internet Music Problem – Legalize It!” , to my opinion, includes a complete proposal within the need for change and revival of music creation.

Find the initial Gerd Leohard letter here and it’s translation in Greek

Here is how to solve the Internet Music Problem – Legalize It!

Beginning from his book  “The Future of Music: Manifesto for the Digital Music Revolution” in 2005 which the Media Futurist  Gerd Leonhard co-wrote with David Kusec (publisher Berklee Press) and followed by his book “Music 2.0″ and a plethora of speaches, presentations, lectures, seminars and documented positions through his blog, he emphasises on the need for change on policies, that supported the music industry up to now.

His enterprizing and subversive ideas -during the time his book was published- are  finding more and more supporters, today, due to his good documenting but also due to the big social changes happening all over the world, simultaneously to the large advances in technology, calling upon a re-examination on ways of thinking, of those involved in the music industry.

In his letter towards Lord Mandelson, the Priminister and Secretary State for Business, Innovation and Skills (HB), titled: “here is how to solve the Internet Music Problem – Legalize It!” , to my opinion, includes a complete proposal within the need for change and revival of music creation.

Find the initial letter here and it’s translation in Greek here.

Recent articles and proposals from my behalf, concerning the music industry can be found here:

Mουσική: ΝΑΙ! – Μουσική βιομηχανία: Τι;

Παρακαλώ μην μας ΚΛΕΒΕΤΕ!!

Intro to music Business podcast

More information on Gerd Leonhard and his work:

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The global economic crisis is a wakeup call to the world: we need to rethink and rebuild many of the organizations and institutions that have served us well for decades, but now have come to the end of their life cycle. The financial services industry, for example, does not just need fresh infusion of capital or some new regulations; it needs a whole new operating model — one based on transparency, sharing of intellectual property and global governance.

As the crisis has spread to other sectors in the economy and even other sectors of society, it is exposing structural weaknesses and modes of operation that no longer nurture social and economic growth. The recent collapse of many newspapers is just one storm-warning of more to come: conventional wisdom isn’t going to cut it for success in this century. We need to reinvent our institutions.

Another example: We face no challenge today that is more important than creating a green energy grid and reindustrializing the planet for sustainability. And for the first time in human history, the peoples of the world are building a global movement to solve this problem — a movement in which everyone is on the same side.

So while the burning of the global economic platform is propelling change, simultaneously the digital revolution is driving new opportunities and a new generation of digital natives is entering the workforce, people who think differently and bring a new and much-needed set of skills to our problems.

For more info about Don Tapscott, please visit: leighbureau.com/speaker.asp?id=13

Much to my surprise I realized that a significant portion of that message, lasting 7 minutes and 44 seconds, referred to Mr. Cohenís professional career and the developments in the field of informatics for the last few decades. What was the purpose of wasting valuable time in an already brief keynote?
All interested parties had plenty of time to get acquainted with Mr. Cohenís professional career and most definitely the majority of professionals in the music industry in our country is well aware of, or at least has some knowledge, of the technological developments in their field.

What was the message?

Although the keynoteís title is ìthe 360 modelî we were in no way informed on this issue while the presentation concluded with the tag “Think out of the box”. Does this general wish express Mr. Cohenís position as a leading Keynote speaker?

Respect for the audience?

Although the keynote was prerecorded, not only did they not edit the part where Mr. Cohen sliped-up in his speech (6min 15sec) but Mr. Cohen also forgot to mention the book he thought was important to suggest to us and furthermore, following his oversight the video and audio were not synchronized for the rest of the keynote.

Finally someone mentions that the record companies were following the developments.

The only interesting part of a presentation that otherwise offers nothing new or interesting  is that for the first time we hear a former executive of a record company (in this case Warner Records) mentioning that at least some companies and from early on (1982) were following closely the developments that, as we all witnessed, turned the record industry upside-down.

The question arises as to why the record industry wasnít able to get ahead of at least some of these developments in the 27 years that have past from when record companies began exploring the future of the music industry in the digital environment by utilizing the technological progress and offering new business models, release formats, manipulating licensing with greater flexibility and treating consumers with respect.

As we have witnessed, all those and a number of other actions were never utilized or came in to effect far too late thus resulting to the forfeit that now looms over the industry and which does not only concern the record companies, as they like to make it appear, but mostly and above all it concerns the creators.

The best time for artists!

I agree with Mr. Cohenís statement that ìNever in history was there a better time for artists to present their workî. This is the essence and the identity of those (record companies or other structures) who will overcome new obstacles is absolutely secondary since the only absolute fact is that the music of competent artists-creators will find its way to the hearts of the audience.

Εpilogue

Finally, I would say that Mr. Cohenís participation was mediocre and certainly not equal to his reputation. He did not contribute to the Athens Music Forum which honored him with an invitation and of course to the public that I imagine was disappointed.

More on Ted Cohen:

Πληροφορίες για τον κ. TED COHEN

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MidemNet blog

Video on artisthousemusic.org

Watch my presentation on “Licensing and using music for Podcasting in Greece”