Stereophile Staff

The <A HREF="http://www.ce.org/">Consumer Electronics Association</A> has at last quantified common knowledge: An overwhelming majority of Internet users download news stories, product information, pictures, graphics, audio files, and video clips&mdash;all for free. Furthermore, Internet users want and expect to continue getting all this content at no cost, and they are opposed to any kind of governmental regulation or interference that will prevent their doing so.

Many years ago, I awoke one Saturday morning to find my girlfriend, with whom I'd had a knock-down, drag-out fight the night before, out on the street in front of our house having an impromptu yard sale. The sale featured <I>my record collection</I>. We broke up. I still have the records.

Satellite radio may become one of the most successful communications formats ever launched, according to predictions from market research and analysis company <A HREF="http://www.yankeegroup.com/">The Yankee Group</A>. A new report suggests that satellite radio will take off the way cable TV did back in the 1970s; the result may create permanent changes in the radio industry.

The European Parliament has enacted a strong new law to protect copyrights, approving the use of encryption to prevent piracy of publications, movies, and recorded music. The new measure, known as the Copyright Directive, will give copyright holders better protection in Europe than they enjoy in the US, according to Italian representative Enrico Boselli, sponsor of the law. The widespread availability of advanced digital technology requires establishing "clear rules for consumers, consumer-electronics manufacturers, Internet service providers, and others," Boselli stated.

Controversy may sell magazines, but it can also cause all sorts of editorial and letter-writing ruckus. In <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//asweseeit/313/">"Where's the Real Magazine,"</A> John Atkinson follows the heated trail that began when he decided to put a PC soundcard on the cover of <I>Stereophile</I> back in September, followed by a Denon surround receiver (horrors!) that graced the December issue. Included as a bonus is the hot-off-the-presses March 2001 "As We See It" in response.

Despite the best efforts of Federal Reserve Board Chairman Alan Greenspan to extend an unprecedented economic boom, the nation's economy is slowing. The slowdown is causing negative repercussions in many sectors&mdash;including the music retailing business and consumer electronics manufacturing.

A billion-dollar loss for the parent company may be a big gain for performers under contract to <A HREF="http://www.wmg.com/">Warner Music Group</A>, who will benefit from cross-promotional efforts aimed at millions of <A HREF="http://www.aol.com/">America Online</A> subscribers beginning this month.