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New EMI Boss Says 'Downloads May Be Good'

Posted by Zonk on from the burn-the-heretic dept.

warrior_s writes "Douglas Merrill was just installed as CIO of EMI (one of the big four that forms the RIAA). The ex-Googler recently stated it is a 'poor business model to sue your customers. I don't think that's a sustainable strategy.' Quoted by the Guardian, he was referring to Warner Music, EMI, Vivendi Universal and Sony BMG's current practice of trying to use legal systems around the world to force their customers into buying products rather than using the free P2P networks and independent music sites and services. 'Previously, the music industry has rubbished studies that claim file sharing can have a positive effect on music sales. "I think people will pay," Merrill said. "There is evidence that people we think are not buying music are buying music. They're just not buying it in formats we can measure."'"

12 of 173 comments (clear)

  1. Tag by esocid · · Score: 5, Funny

    Suddenoutbreakofcommonsense?

    --
    Absolute power corrupts absolutely. indymedia
    1. Re:Tag by zappepcs · · Score: 2, Funny

      I doubt it. More likely he was the first to walk through the poison ivy, it's just a rash. Wait till all the others start stomping through the poison ivy that is P2P... then call it an outbreak.

      Not sure how good an analogy that is, but seems good. If they make enough PR stink about this, it might just get them some business. Plan A was not working. Rest assured that plan B will be as friendly as the DMCA, on steroids.

      I hope that the real truth of it is that they looked at NIN and Radiohead and did some math to come to the conclusion it is more profitable to give 'name your price' downloads and take some theft than it is to hire an army of lawyers for decades.

      On the optimistic side, perhaps this will lead to a la carte music purchasing AND more than top 100 artists available?

      --
      Support NYCountryLawyer RIAA vs People
  2. Colour me surprised by MrNaz · · Score: 5, Funny

    Here I was thinking that not even big business could afford the salary of Captain Obvious. Either I was wrong or he's doing pro bono work these days.

    --
    I hate printers.
    1. Re:Colour me surprised by Cctoide · · Score: 2, Funny

      Almost: he's doing pro-Bono work.

      --
      "Let's face it, it's a good story. Accuracy would kill it."
  3. Mistake by Necreia · · Score: 4, Funny

    April Fools was Monday

    1. Re:Mistake by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Someone must have been pranking you well. Because it was Tuesday

  4. Holy Crap by whisper_jeff · · Score: 4, Funny

    Holy crap! Someone in a position of power in the Big Four actually gets it.

    I forget - is that one of the signs of the end of the world?

  5. Suing your customers by merc · · Score: 4, Funny

    The ex-Googler recently stated it is a 'poor business model to sue your customers.

    Darl McBride was not immediately available for comments.

    --
    It's true no man is an island, but if you take a bunch of dead guys and tie 'em together, they make a good raft.
  6. And your job is... what, exactly? by roystgnr · · Score: 3, Funny

    "They're just not buying it in formats we can measure."

    You're not writing, composing, or playing the music. There aren't any execs in the recording studios helping to put it on disc. Your only job is to take a cut of the money that someone who isn't you is trying to give to someone else who isn't you... and you can't even be bothered to keep track of how much money you're taking?! Is there anything scheduled in your day planner besides interviews, hookers, and blow?

    1. Re:And your job is... what, exactly? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Is there anything scheduled in your day planner besides interviews, hookers, and blow?

      In fact, let's forget the interviews.

    2. Re:And your job is... what, exactly? by Gat0r30y · · Score: 4, Funny

      Is there anything scheduled in your day planner besides interviews, hookers, and blow? Blackjack?
      --
      Prediction: The real iPhone killer is going to be sex robots from Japan. Think about it.
  7. And in other news by zenderbender · · Score: 3, Funny

    Douglas Merrill CIO of EMI was just fired from his job!