Kaazaa : Unlimited Downloads

The record industry has brought most of us a great deal of joy over the years by enabling low cost access to our favorite performers. Times are changing and internet distribution systems like Kaazaa are threatening their vast existing distribution channels and business models.

The problem is they seem to be running out of ideas. So below, I've come up with five ideas about how the record industry could allow unlimited downloads on Kaazaa to all while still being just as profitable and possibly more profitable as they have been in the past.

Develop a club on Kaazaa which people sign up for on a subscription basis. This gives them basic rights to a certain number of songs per month plus some access to their favorite performers. Develop virtual fan clubs for individual owners where users can receive "limited edition' versions of their favorite performers works, personalised content, access to interactive chats, discounts to concerts and merchandise etc.

Release new singles on Kaazaa at the same time as making them available for digital download and purchase. Accompany with the music video released streamed live or timed simultaneously with an MTV release.

Embed release authenticity information into the digital copy of the recordings which would be removed in the event of an analog conversion. Provide an online marketplace and authentication service for the buying and selling of limited edition copies.

Allow access to Kazaa on a pay-per-hour service for higher quality streaming and access and unique content. Use this platform to build an alternative Internet offering superior communication and trading facilities, and promoting a whole range of related and unrelated ecommerce offerings.

Include in every audio CD, advertising and promotion of the Kazaa services with individual promotion codes. Use these promotion codes to track the sources of sales. Share revenue with the distributors and retailers of the CDs.