2009 is coming to an end as well as the first decade of the new millennium. When you think of all the changes we've had in the last 10 years, it's been pretty mind blowing. Our society is moving at such a rapid pace. We expect to produce more in less time due to modern conveniences. It makes you wonder what society will think of us 100 years from now.
The business of music is continuing to go through a very painful change and I think we have a ways to go before the industry understands itself. In the meantime, rights holders including labels, publishers, and public performance organizations still seem to be at odds with how consumers want to experience music online. Lawsuits and untenable business terms continue to destroy innovation as well as prevent entrepreneurs from even considering working with the industry.
As much as the industry has lost financially as a whole, it hasn't been enough to convince executives at the top that mass licensing is a viable long term strategy. The VC community is staying away from anyone interested in creating a music start up. Even Google wants nothing to do with the licensing side. Their search integration puts the burden on companies like MySpace, Rhapsody and Pandora to pay the rights holders.
But for all the panic in the industry, I still believe this is the greatest time in history to be working in music. Change is happening every month and eventually when the entire music catalog is financially accessible to all companies, it will come down to services that provide the best interaction. That's certainly something to look forward to. I'm sad to see my old company imeem disappear but I'm excited about what Apple will do with Lala and how Spotify is making efforts to come to the US. I'm not sure either of these will solve the financial crisis that is hitting the music business but I think these services get us closer to what users want and will eventually pay for.
Ok, enough on that for now, let's get to the list. I've notice that a lot of people have put together their top tracks of the decade. I'll try and do that over the holiday break but for now you can check out my favorites from this year. I remember early on being very excited about the Vetiver record which was definitely a highlight. It was also nice to see a resurgence in the folk rock genre. I'm really digging bands like Dawes, The Moondoggies, and Monsters of Folk (and all releases from everyone in that band).
So here it is, let me know what I'm missing. Happy Holidays!
