In life, things change. In is an inevitable conclusion to the predetermined result of some origination. (Ok, I just wanted to sound like the Architect there at the end of the Matrix, and see if anyone noticed)

One of the things that we, as a member of the humankind, fear most in life is change. Especially when it is something we have not planned for. Perhaps this is what has been happening with file sharing on the Internet and the battle that ensued from the major record labels. Instead of them keeping up with technology and finding a way to use it to their advantage, they used their might to try and squash what they thought was a little bug.

That bug wasn’t little though, and it is changing the music industry. Sure they have had some successes with kicking Napster around, a few college students, and the lawsuits that continue against the popular file sharing of Kazaa. That being said, it seems that they have had to give in to the inevitable conclusion that the only thing to fear is fear itself.

You’d have to be living under a rock to not notice the success of iTunes, and the countless other new music services popping up. Even heavyweights such as Microsoft are getting behind the change with the new MSN Music service.

So what do musicians think about all of this? Well, according to the survey by the nonprofit “Pew Internet and American Life Project”, they like it. Most musicians I know understand that change is not only inevitable, but a necessary part of the creative process. This may be why over two thirds of those surveyed believe that even unauthorized online file-sharing does not pose a major threat to them. In fact, the majority believes that the Internet has made it possible for them to make more money, and reach more people with their art.

Thanks for listening,