LATEST ADDITIONS

In the world of computer operating systems, you've got commercial products from Microsoft, Apple, Be, Sun, and others in one corner, and open-source products like Linux in the other. The commercial products are released to the public as finished products (at least until the next "bug fix" is ready), usually for a fee, and their core software code is protected much like the recipe for Coca-Cola. If you don't work for the company producing the official version, then it's hands off.

Billy Joel has decided to clean out his warehouse. Next month, the veteran rocker's almost-30-year-old collection of musical instruments, recording equipment, and stage gear will be put up for public auction by <A HREF="http://www.ssi.sony.com/">Sony Signatures</A>, his merchandising company. A portion of the gross from the "Billy Joel Memorabilia Auction" will be donated to <A HREF="http://www.vh1.com/">VH1</A>'s Save the Music Foundation, according to Dan Cooper, Senior Vice President of Sony Signatures' music division.

One might think that the publisher of "The Largest Marketplace in the World for Audiophile Equipment" would have a vested interest in encouraging trading activity among his readers. One would think that such a publisher might take a neutral stance regarding fluctuations in the world market for used equipment. One would think that he would credit his readers with sufficient intelligence to decide for themselves whether any specific purchase, sale, or trade was a good deal.

The technology exists to create high-end audio programming that could finally solve the problem audiophiles have had with FM radio for years. But would you be interested enough to buy the equipment and/or pay for the service?

The <A HREF="http://www.webnoize.com">WebNoize</A&gt; three-day conference took place last week in Los Angeles, mixing record-company executives with Internet geeks, all trying to find profitable ways to distribute music online. Tom Roli, publisher of the Webnoize website, set the tone for the event, stating that "the industry is facing great change and uncertainty due to emerging technologies, shifting global markets, and media revolutions."

Internet audio continues to expand. Last week, at the first WebNoize conference, held in Los Angeles, <A HREF="http://www.jamtv.com/">JamTV/Rolling Stone Network</A> and <A HREF="http://www.real.com/">RealNetworks, Inc.</A> announced the debut of <A HREF="http://www.rsradio.com/">Rolling Stone Radio</A>, a new Internet audio service offering music in several genres. Rock star David Bowie announced that he would serve as a disc jockey for the new venture. <A HREF="http://www.amazon.com">Amazon.com</A&gt; has also signed on to participate as a music retailer.

In the age before recordings, music was a service business. Composers wrote for their patrons, and musicians performed for money. In the days since Edison's inventions, music has become a commodity business in which record companies stockpile large inventories and attempt to move them into the market of music lovers through a dense network of distributors and retailers. For established artists, the service aspect of music---playing for pay---now exists primarily to support the commodity business. For developing artists, public performance is a form of self-promotion to aid the search for a recording contract.