Newspapers, Music out with the old and in with the...?

I've read a few different pieces over the past couple weeks that has alot to do with the fall of old line media businesses and the replacement with...well something that we're not totally clear about.

First off is the debate among Chris Anderson, Malcolm Gladwell, Seth Godin and Scott Orn over Chris Anderson's new book, "Free." I've not read the book, but the gist seems to be that free is just another price and that lots of things will end up being priced this way. You'll just have to find other ways to make money. I think maybe a better way to say it, companies and service providers are going to have to offer a larger suite of products and services and sometimes the main thing you're providing to the consumer is free, but you hope to make this money on the backend.

Malcolm Gladwell's book review

Chris Anderson's response

Seth Godin's response

My friend, scott orn, commmented on gladwell's response on his Kenny Kellogg blog:

After reading this debate go over to check out Michael Masnick's presentation to NARM - Thats the nation association of recording merchandisers. Its 30 minutes. you probably don't have to listen to the whole thing. But, list to part of it - from 2.30 to about
I've embedded the clip to go

NARM 2009 State Of The Industry: Michael Masnick from NARM on Vimeo.

While you're watching/listening, read the article from Clay Shirky that he referenced.

Finally, Trent Rezner, who is referenced in this presentation, has decided to leave the music business...at least in the form of Nine Inch Nails. As a goodbye, he left some tips for bands - I've linked to the Stereogum post.

There seem to be a couple of consistent themes.

1. If it can be free. It will be free.
2. Businesses need to solve some sort of problem. If you solve a problem that is based on a complicated distribution system that no longer needs to be complicated or if your business solves a problem that isn't really a problem anymore, you won't have a business.
3. Business is hard. Whats happening in media isn't really that different than what happened in other industries. P&G needs to keep innovating and giving consumers more and more for the same amount of money. Artists and media companies will need to work hard to get consumers to give them money - such as some of Trent Rezner's suggestions.
4. Topspin media rocks. If you're interested in the music business, you need to watch these guys and try to get involved with them.