Communications networks can be used as a source of profitability, but not according to the traditional model of selling songs, when they are so easy to copy.
Despite the existence of pay-for-music services like iTunes, industry insiders confide that they have become convinced that iTunes in the long run will never generate as much profits as CDs. "Worldwide music sales fell about 7% last year...growth in downloads from iTunes, the biggest legitimate digital service, came to a halt" (Pfanner 2009). "At the end of the day, we are not going to stop piracy, so let's...
Internet companies, which had once resisted the music company's efforts to police their customers, also now have an interest in ensuring that the use of such unlimited databases remains legitimate, as they are part of the new profit model.
Work Cite
Pfanner, Eric. (2009, January 18). "Music industry imitates digital pirates to turn a profit." The New York Times. Retrieved January 19, 2009 at http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/19/business/worldbusiness/19digital.html?scp=2&sq=file%20sharing&st=cse
