Traditional music radio has been taking a beating since the mid '80s, when declining audience numbers entered a ratings freefall. Reader Bard-Alan Finlan argued in his <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/showsoap.cgi?276">Soapbox</A&gt; a few weeks back that perhaps digital radio could cure the market's over-the-air terrestrial broadcast ills, if only it were implemented with adequate bandwidth and marketed correctly.

"I wouldn't characterize my life as 'a search for bigger and better toys,' but I <I>am</I> intrigued by interesting things&mdash;like the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//loudspeakerreviews/648/">Impact Airfoil 5.2 loudspeaker system</A>," says Brian Damkroger as he steels himself for another review. BD goes in search of an answer to the Airfoil dilemma: "big toy, new toy, neat toy, better toy?"

<I>The fundamental object of the invention is to provide...the listener a realistic impression that the intelligence is being communicated to him over two acoustic paths in the same manner as he experiences in listening to everyday acoustic intercourse....</I>&mdash;Blumlein, <I>et al</I>, British Patent #394,325, issued June 14, 1933</B>

<I>The fundamental object of the invention is to provide...the listener a realistic impression that the intelligence is being communicated to him over two acoustic paths in the same manner as he experiences in listening to everyday acoustic intercourse....</I>&mdash;Blumlein, <I>et al</I>, British Patent #394,325, issued June 14, 1933</B>

<I>The fundamental object of the invention is to provide...the listener a realistic impression that the intelligence is being communicated to him over two acoustic paths in the same manner as he experiences in listening to everyday acoustic intercourse....</I>&mdash;Blumlein, <I>et al</I>, British Patent #394,325, issued June 14, 1933</B>

What music lovers have suspected for months, and record labels vehemently deny, has apparently been confirmed by <A HREF="http://www.forrester.com">Forrester Research</A>: Piracy is not responsible for the 15% drop in music sales in the past two years. According to a new report from Forrester, "Labels can restore industry growth by making it easier for people to find, copy, and pay for music on their own terms."

Digital satellite radio is one of the most promising entertainment developments since the invention of the DVD. It's also a high-risk venture for investors.

Questionable accounting practices were at the heart of the collapse of energy conglomerate Enron and telecommunications giant WorldCom. Apparently, they are also rampant in the music industry&mdash;or at least pervasive enough to command the attention of California state legislators, who have scheduled a second hearing to examine the situation.

John Atkinson gets his hands on "the very strange-looking" <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//loudspeakerreviews/643/">MBL 111B loudspeaker</A> to determine how "upper-frequency drive-units resembling an array of orange segments" could possibly sound. As JA discovers, thinking different can sometimes be a plus.