I entered Fordham University with my major already declared as finance. I have a passion for mathematics and I want to be able to apply what I have learned in my job after I graduate. Although I am still keen on entering the field of investment finance, I have developed an interest in the music industry. I find it interesting how the music industry must adapt its business model and keep up with the upgrades in technology. I am also anxious to see what approach it takes and where the music industry is in the ten years.
After interviewing John Boulos, my interest in the music industry grew even more. He has close relationships with top name artists and he helps promote and market their music. In the future, I could see myself in a similar position. I love working with people and I feel that I possess good social skills.
In the next few years, I hope to get many internships with large financial corporations. I also want to try to get one in the music industry. I want to keep my options open and find an occupation that I have a passion for. I am going to try to gain many connections so that I have several opportunities in the future.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Interview with John Boulos
I interviewed John Boulos, who works in promotion and marketing for Atlantic Records. He has been working in the music industry for about 30 years. Within that time, he has worked at 10 different companies.
He indicated that the illegal downloading of free music has changed the music industry. The music industry, in turn, must adapt a new business model to solve this problem. He used the analogy of the situation concerning bottled water nearly a decade ago. People have tap water for free. However, companies that sell bottled water convinced people the buy their product even though that have tap water for no expense. Likewise, the music industry must convince people to buy CD's that artists produce.
In the music industry, Mr. Boulos said that there are many key skills useful in his job. Social skills are the most important. One must have good listening skills and always have a strategy. Before entering this industry, a college student should be passionate about working and want to work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. He should take the opportunity to learn from others and be able to apply general principles that coordinate with the job.
He explained how small companies are struggling to survive now that the music industry has been forced to change. Small, innovative companies that have yet to be created could have a large effect in the future of the music industry. The company that finds a way to sell music in this digital generation will have the most success.
He indicated that the illegal downloading of free music has changed the music industry. The music industry, in turn, must adapt a new business model to solve this problem. He used the analogy of the situation concerning bottled water nearly a decade ago. People have tap water for free. However, companies that sell bottled water convinced people the buy their product even though that have tap water for no expense. Likewise, the music industry must convince people to buy CD's that artists produce.
In the music industry, Mr. Boulos said that there are many key skills useful in his job. Social skills are the most important. One must have good listening skills and always have a strategy. Before entering this industry, a college student should be passionate about working and want to work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. He should take the opportunity to learn from others and be able to apply general principles that coordinate with the job.
He explained how small companies are struggling to survive now that the music industry has been forced to change. Small, innovative companies that have yet to be created could have a large effect in the future of the music industry. The company that finds a way to sell music in this digital generation will have the most success.
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Changes in the Music Industry
The music industry, as Johnny Cash would have stated it, was “born to lose, and destined to fail.” Within the last decade, technology has increased at an exponential rate, and the music industry has yet to join this technological revolution. More and more people have become dependent on the internet, thus creating a dilemma concerning the illegal downloading of free music. I do not necessarily agree with illicit downloading, but the music industry is not handling the situation appropriately.
The music industry’s business model has not been able to adapt to the increases in technology and the convenience of the internet. Consumers are, for the most part, attracted to a band after hearing a single hit song from them on the radio. However, they take a risk if the buy this band’s CD because they have never heard any of the other songs on it. This problem has lured many people to convert to the illegal downloading of free music. They can download songs based on preference and have the ability to customize their own library.
In addition, the business model of the music industry is flawed because the prices of compact discs have become standardized. Prices are considered the central economic mechanism of information transmission because they convey information about future risks and future benefits. Therefore, it is difficult for record labels to understand the true preferences of the individual consumer. Likewise, it is difficult for consumers to gauge the risk they endure when making a purchase. Illegal downloads have enabled consumers to erase the risk of obtaining unwanted songs, and through these illegal downloads, music labels can more readily analyze consumer preferences.
Although music labels claim that elicit downloading has been a major factor in the recent decrease in legal music sales, the reality of the situation is that illegal downloads have had an effect “not statistically distinguishable from zero” (Fisher). After analyzing data from the final four months of 2002 in the United States, peer-to-peer downloads have only affected music sales by .7% (Fisher). In the study, 1.75 million song downloads from 680 different albums sold were tracked during that time period (Fisher). The findings were that music sales had dropped about 80 million sales from the previous years, and illicit downloads could only be accounted for no more than 6 million of those lost (Fisher). Therefore, the illegal downloading of free music on peer-to-peer websites does not correlate to a decrease in music sales.
Since illicit downloads have barely any effect on music sales, music labels could use the idea of downloading music as a catalyst to ignite the future of the music industry. Apple’s online music store, iTunes, for example, has allowed users to purchase individual songs from the internet. Since Apple does not own or control any music, it must license the rights to distribute the music to others (Jobs). Although Apple’s business model is more innovative than that of the music industry, it does not allow music labels to analyze consumer preferences accurately due to the standardized price of $.99 cents per song. If the prices of songs fluctuated, consumer preference patterns would be more accurate and more easily evaluated. ITunes is also flawed because songs purchased on it can only be played in the iPod because they do not share any digital rights management (Jobs).
Therefore, the music industry should take advantage of this opportunity and convert their business model into one that coincides with the internet. Research shows that the most popular iPod, which holds 1000 songs, is on average nearly full (Jobs). 22 out of 1000 songs, or 3%, are purchased from iTunes and protected with a DRM (Jobs). Consequently, the other 97% are unprotected and can be played on any music player. Since iPod users are purchasing the majority of their music from outside sources, they are not dependent on iTunes to purchase their music (Jobs). The music industry should alter their business model and fill in this gap.
Illicit downloads have become an alternative to legally purchasing music from music labels. As a result, the music industry has to adapt to the changing technology and build a new business model or alter their current one so that it coincides with the internet. I believe that the transformation of the music industry will not be an easy task, but the opportunity is available.
References:
Fisher, Ken. "Study: P2P effect on legal music sales "not statistically distinguishable from zero." Ars Technica. February 12, 2007. 11 Apr 2007 http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070212-8813.html.
Jobs, Steve. "Thought on Music." Hot News. February 6, 2007. Apple. 11 Apr 2007 http://www.apple.com/hotnews/thoughtsonmusic/.
The music industry’s business model has not been able to adapt to the increases in technology and the convenience of the internet. Consumers are, for the most part, attracted to a band after hearing a single hit song from them on the radio. However, they take a risk if the buy this band’s CD because they have never heard any of the other songs on it. This problem has lured many people to convert to the illegal downloading of free music. They can download songs based on preference and have the ability to customize their own library.
In addition, the business model of the music industry is flawed because the prices of compact discs have become standardized. Prices are considered the central economic mechanism of information transmission because they convey information about future risks and future benefits. Therefore, it is difficult for record labels to understand the true preferences of the individual consumer. Likewise, it is difficult for consumers to gauge the risk they endure when making a purchase. Illegal downloads have enabled consumers to erase the risk of obtaining unwanted songs, and through these illegal downloads, music labels can more readily analyze consumer preferences.
Although music labels claim that elicit downloading has been a major factor in the recent decrease in legal music sales, the reality of the situation is that illegal downloads have had an effect “not statistically distinguishable from zero” (Fisher). After analyzing data from the final four months of 2002 in the United States, peer-to-peer downloads have only affected music sales by .7% (Fisher). In the study, 1.75 million song downloads from 680 different albums sold were tracked during that time period (Fisher). The findings were that music sales had dropped about 80 million sales from the previous years, and illicit downloads could only be accounted for no more than 6 million of those lost (Fisher). Therefore, the illegal downloading of free music on peer-to-peer websites does not correlate to a decrease in music sales.
Since illicit downloads have barely any effect on music sales, music labels could use the idea of downloading music as a catalyst to ignite the future of the music industry. Apple’s online music store, iTunes, for example, has allowed users to purchase individual songs from the internet. Since Apple does not own or control any music, it must license the rights to distribute the music to others (Jobs). Although Apple’s business model is more innovative than that of the music industry, it does not allow music labels to analyze consumer preferences accurately due to the standardized price of $.99 cents per song. If the prices of songs fluctuated, consumer preference patterns would be more accurate and more easily evaluated. ITunes is also flawed because songs purchased on it can only be played in the iPod because they do not share any digital rights management (Jobs).
Therefore, the music industry should take advantage of this opportunity and convert their business model into one that coincides with the internet. Research shows that the most popular iPod, which holds 1000 songs, is on average nearly full (Jobs). 22 out of 1000 songs, or 3%, are purchased from iTunes and protected with a DRM (Jobs). Consequently, the other 97% are unprotected and can be played on any music player. Since iPod users are purchasing the majority of their music from outside sources, they are not dependent on iTunes to purchase their music (Jobs). The music industry should alter their business model and fill in this gap.
Illicit downloads have become an alternative to legally purchasing music from music labels. As a result, the music industry has to adapt to the changing technology and build a new business model or alter their current one so that it coincides with the internet. I believe that the transformation of the music industry will not be an easy task, but the opportunity is available.
References:
Fisher, Ken. "Study: P2P effect on legal music sales "not statistically distinguishable from zero." Ars Technica. February 12, 2007. 11 Apr 2007 http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070212-8813.html.
Jobs, Steve. "Thought on Music." Hot News. February 6, 2007. Apple. 11 Apr 2007 http://www.apple.com/hotnews/thoughtsonmusic/.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
The Ideal Television
There has been a recent revolution in technology with the improvement of cell phones, the internet, and in the music industry. However, television has yet to join this revolution. Television viewers are paying monthly reates for hundreds of channels that they do not necessarily watch on a regular basis. To solve this, there have been attempts to link the television to the computer thus allowing viewers to choose their special programs at any time during the day. Television companies should offer packages that allows the viewers to choose their favorite channel. Rather than paying a ridiculous price that contains hundreds of channels that the television is company is forcing me to pay for, I would pay a given amount to have 15 of my favorite channels available to me at all times. This would satisfy the desires of the viewers and make television watching much more popular.
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
The Ideal Cell Phone
Over the past decade, technology in the cell phone industry has developed at an exponential rate. A few years ago, cell phones were large, physically unattractive, and limited to incoming and received calls. Now phones can fit in the palm of a hand, have colorful screens, and contain many functions. Although phones have improved drastically over the past decade, I feel that they can get even better. My ideal phone would have a built in navigation program to solve my problem of getting lost everywhere I go. In addition, my ideal cell phone would be waterproof. I have broken my phone numerous times as a result of getting it wet and I know many others who share the same problem. Finally, my ideal cell phone would have service underground in subway trains. By combining these three aspects into the already advanced cell phone, there would be a revolution in the cell phone industry.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Top 5 Movies
1. Carlito's Way(1993)
Al Pacino stars in the role of Carlito, a Puerto Rican ex-con who has just been released for prison. He plegdes to live a new life away from drugs and violence, but new, young blood has entered the game and is getting in his way.
2. A Bronx Tale (1993)
This film stars Chaz Palmintieri and Robert Deneiro. Tension arises between Sonny (Palmintieri), a local gangster, and Lorenzo Anello (Deneiro), a loving father who is trying to make an honest living. When Anello's son falls under Sonny's wing, he does everything in his power to show his son a life away from crime.
3. Leon (1994)
Jean Reno plays Leon, a professional hitman who takes care of a 12-year old girl named Mathilda. After Mathilda's family is murdered, she seeks revenge and desires to continue Leon's legacy as a hitman.
4. American History X (1998)
An neo-nazi skinhead, played by Edward Norton, undergoes an epiphany after being imprisoned for the killing of two black males. After being released, he tries to prevent his brother from following the same path that he did.
5. Fight Club (1999)
Two men, played by Edward Norton and Brad Pitt, form a club to help vent male aggression. Before long, the club expands and becomes an anarchist cult against society. Edward Norton realizes the corruption of their club, and tries to prevent future wrongdoings. However, more problems arise after Edward Norton has a realization about what is really going on.
Al Pacino stars in the role of Carlito, a Puerto Rican ex-con who has just been released for prison. He plegdes to live a new life away from drugs and violence, but new, young blood has entered the game and is getting in his way.
2. A Bronx Tale (1993)
This film stars Chaz Palmintieri and Robert Deneiro. Tension arises between Sonny (Palmintieri), a local gangster, and Lorenzo Anello (Deneiro), a loving father who is trying to make an honest living. When Anello's son falls under Sonny's wing, he does everything in his power to show his son a life away from crime.
3. Leon (1994)
Jean Reno plays Leon, a professional hitman who takes care of a 12-year old girl named Mathilda. After Mathilda's family is murdered, she seeks revenge and desires to continue Leon's legacy as a hitman.
4. American History X (1998)
An neo-nazi skinhead, played by Edward Norton, undergoes an epiphany after being imprisoned for the killing of two black males. After being released, he tries to prevent his brother from following the same path that he did.
5. Fight Club (1999)
Two men, played by Edward Norton and Brad Pitt, form a club to help vent male aggression. Before long, the club expands and becomes an anarchist cult against society. Edward Norton realizes the corruption of their club, and tries to prevent future wrongdoings. However, more problems arise after Edward Norton has a realization about what is really going on.
Starting My Own Company
The idea of starting my own company has never crossed my mind. Based on the VC Cliche of the Week, I will do a self diagnosis to decipher whether or not I'd make a good entrepeneur. The first quality is that an entrepeneur is usually the brightest person in the room. Although I have always kept my grades high and have had motivation to do well in school, I have never felt like the smartest person in the classroom environment. There is always that one person who seems to know everything about everything. Secondly, the entrepeneur is compelling, engaging, and has a social personality. I feel that I can fall into this category. I love to meet people and offer my opinions, while at the same time hearing the ideas of others. Next, a hunger for the payday. I feel that money is the ultimate motivator when it comes to the workplace. Without a salary or wage, I would have neither enthusiasm nor motivation to do the best job possible. I will combine four more topics into the next category: an insatiable passion for creating things, an expertise in the product, ability to mediate between the product and the development team, and a flair for marketing. In all fairness, I feel that these topics push me away from becoming an entrepeneur. I have never had a knack for making things. I have always been more of a mathematical minded person. Overall, I do not feel that I would make the best entrepeneur. I would rather work under someone and gain an expertise in a profession and slowly build my way up on the company.
To check out the VC Cliche of the Week, visit this page:
http://avc.blogs.com/a_vc/2006/04/vc_clich_of_the_1.html
To check out the VC Cliche of the Week, visit this page:
http://avc.blogs.com/a_vc/2006/04/vc_clich_of_the_1.html
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