[Anti-drm] Big labels are f*cked, and DRM is dead - Peter Jenner

[Omar Kaminski]

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/11/03/peter_jenner/

Big labels are f*cked, and DRM is dead - Peter Jenner
Clash, Pink Floyd manager lifts the lid
By Andrew Orlowski
Published Friday 3rd November 2006 17:04 GMT

"Few people know the music industry better than Peter Jenner. Pink Floyd's 
first manager, who subsequently managed Syd Barrett's solo career, Jenner 
has also looked after T.Rex, The Clash, Ian Dury, Disposable Heroes and 
Billy Bragg - who he manages today. He's also secretary general of the 
International Music Managers Forum.

And he doesn't pull his punches.

The major four music labels today are "fucked", he says. Digital music 
pricing has been a scam where the consumer pays for manufacturing, 
distribution, and does all the work - and still has to pay more. Labels 
should outsource everything except finance and licensing.

But he's also optimistic that for almost everyone else - indie labels, 
musicians, songwriters and budding entrepreneurs - as well as network 
providers - the future's going to be pretty bright. The Big Four know that 
the DRM era is nearly over - and within two or three years, he predicts, 
"most countries" in the world will have a blanket licensing regime where we 
exchange music freely, for a couple of quid a month." (...)