DIGITAL DAYS

ARE WE IN A MESS IN THIS BUSINESS?

Well. not really.

Are we confussed old men with no idea whats going on. Probably.

Digitals better for artists and indie labels than CD on the whole.

Guess so 'cos its cheaper but the downsideis that it sounds like crap.

(That's real old man talk - no tune - wheres the melody? etc)

Actually its pretty good to listen to in the car as rule and with the new HD and Satellite channels coming to life its all vibrancy and madness out there.

In the UK, despite the recent collapse of Music Zone and Tower we are still in there fighting. Trouble is that so is everyone else. Its what they call lowering the barriers to entry.

That has a knock on effect which is that you need even more cash to make a noise using traditional methods. WE all have to think differntly.

Turns out Fopp have bought Music Zone so maybe they wil be better stores than before. That takes them from about 50 stores to over 150. No mean feat in one move. And it just shows that there are opportunities out there. You need to grab them whilst you can. WELL DONE FOPP!

So, Listen you other retailers (HMV, VIRGIN ETC) - Stop being so damn retro and get into the new world. Place user friendly download portals in every shop. Fill the pace with Apple Macs and make it look cool. Take a tip from the phone shops and give the consumer extra. The old listening booths would be a good start - headphones make you look dorkey unless they are worn as a fashion statment and the kids with $200 hair cuts will not wear them - oh and you get nits!

Up the game and stop trying to shortchange us all. Add massive stocks that are representative of music and not just Universal's A&R department. You get them on sale or return anyway so enough with the crap that you have no space. Use it better!

Here is my top retail tip - more free sex for all. Works everywhere else. What the hell is sexy about shopping for CD's? BOG ALL THATS WHAT!

In fact that's the key. Bands should offer to shag all the audience instead of the audience lusting after the bands.

Anyone out there got anything to say?