Warner Music developing e-label that kinda sorta gets it... maybe.
Yes, it appears hell has suffered at least a bit of a frost. Major label Warner Music Group is planning to roll out an e-label in which the only method of distribution will be online — there will be no corresponding CD physical product manufactured. Warner Music CEO Edgar Bronfman, Jr. announced that the label was seeking to "experiment with a new business model" (finally!) that reflects the growing popularity of music download services. Other interesting features of the new business model include the not insignificant fact that recording artists will retain the copyright and ownership of their work, and that the release schedule will be more on the order of a few tracks per several months as opposed to an album production every few years, and without as much pressure to release a constant stream of mega-hits. They still don't quite get why things like the iPod tax are silly, and the statement "we like government levies when they benefit us" is a little bit, um, embarassing. But hey, small steps, small steps.
