]... The electronics industry's attitude toward the labels is summed
] up by an Apple slogan: Rip. Mix. Burn. Which, a music industry
] executive once told me, translates into "Fuck you, record labels"

A bunch of articles this month on this... the one on Sony is
particularly interesting -- the interests of its electronics and music units are inherently in conflict.

Apparently, Sony is getting ready to unveil a new version of
their OpenMG DRM tech at CES; they want to get some groundswell
and support from the rest of the industry before Palladium
gets into full swing. dmv notes that Sony has not been
really successful at this in the past.

CD sales were down 11% last year. I'd really like to see the
real breakdown as to how much is due to Kazaa and friends,
how much is due to the economy and how much is due to the
industry's product being increasingly poor.