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Check this out:

http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2 ... -the-ipad/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

As tablet devices become ubiquitous, perhaps there's some glimmer of hope here?

James Steele wrote:As tablet devices become ubiquitous, perhaps there's some glimmer of hope here?

Some artists played with this idea on the iPhone as well but I think the iPad makes it more engaging. Basically instead of providing your stuff as standard audio tracks, you build an application that plays your songs and provides a multimedia browser to lyrics, liner notes, videos, whatever. Such an application need not require a rocket scientist to build. It could be done essentially as a self-contained web site with mp4 movies for the videos, mp3's for the audio, and jpeg's and html for the rest of it.

The downer is the only place they can play your stuff is in your app on the ipad unless you also provide a way to download unprotected music files through the application for installation into the music library. Of course, once they sync to their iTunes the music is now exportable and shareable. So it isn't a total solution but it does seem that to sell music to a fan base you have to put a lot of ribbons and bows on the package to get them to pay for it.

Wow, there is hope yet!

Just when we think the game is over, something comes along that could stir up excitement and creativity.

As the 12" vinyl format came along in the late 1950's (in fits and starts) and replaced 7" boxed sets and 10" mini-EP's, this spurred excitement amongst consumers and artists.

Of course in the digital realm, album length is irrelevant, not being bound by the medium. But having new visual ways to present the material could definitely improve branding and help develop following for bands, the concept of "albums" (thought dead), etc.