Benton teaches us to innovate in hard times, when people will try anything. Steve Jobs was able to get the major labels blessings (albeit with DRM restrictions) for iTunes because the CD was declining so much. We just experienced the WORST decline in CD sales ever, and things aren’t going to get better. Now is a great time to grab people’s attention.

McPartland teaches us that music is a commodity. Even if people have no money, they still have an innate need for music. Jim Griffin introduced a concept that has been referred to as “music like water”. There are still MANY kinks to be worked out of these types of ideas, but the concept is fairly accurate.

But beyond recorded music, McPartland was really just talking about MUSICIANS as a commodity. It would be wonderful to see more grants available for qualified artists to pursue their craft. If I earned a grant to record my next album, I wouldn’t feel so strapped to make money from it. This is a very basic concept that is executed in other countries, yet any discussion of it in the US gets people on the defense about socialism and liberal agendas. Those are usually the same people who think music should be free. Hmm.

When main street’s bailout doesn’t come (it can’t)…..watch out.