Quotes - Digital Visions of Industry Leaders

"The expansion in digital music is providing us with more and more new ways to add value for consumers, artists and an ever-growing circle of business partners and brands. Now we - the music industry, retailers and technology companies - must work together to maximise this unique opportunity."
Alain Levy, Chairman and CEO, EMI Music

"It has been a tremendous year for Apple and music with the iTunes music store now available in 21 countries. The iTunes music store is the most popular way for Mac and PC users worldwide to legally discover, purchase and download music online, offering users a selection of over 3,000 music videos, Pixar short films, and more than two million songs from the major music companies and independent record labels."
Eddie Cue, Vice President of iTunes, Apple

"In Asia, we have witnessed the creation of a singles market over the internet. Additionally, people have been using music to express themselves through their mobiles via applications like ringtones, master ringtones, ringback tones and blog 'soundtracks'. Both these megatrends are likely to define the future evolution of music into its next form, or 'avatar'- this is just the beginning."
Sudhanshu Sarronwala, CEO, Soundbuzz Pte Ltd

"2005 has taught entertainment retailers about diversification. The sale of traditional music formats alone can no longer be relied upon to maintain entertainment retail as a viable business model. The sale of traditional product coupled with the sale of digital product and music-related goods will be the model moving forward. While online music sales are doing well, we certainly need a combination of all three sales channels to continue to grow as a sector."
Simon Wright, President, GERA; CEO Virgin Entertainment Group International

"Over the past year, two of the biggest developments across the web have been the proliferation of online communities and the creation of new services that let people incorporate digital content into their sites and communities. At Real, we're now laying the foundation to weave music into the fabric of the Internet, creating ways to let people legally incorporate digital music into their sites in ways never before possible."
Rob Glaser, Chairman and CEO, RealNetworks

"The biggest development of the year was that given a choice between CD, vinyl or digital, more than 25% (and growing) of consumers chose to buy digital singles in the UK. The creates a huge opportunity for indies that find it difficult to compete for shelf space at physical retail, have limited budgets and have trouble marketing and promoting releases in the traditional music industry."
Scott Cohen, Founder and President, The Orchard

"The proliferation of digital music platforms means that consumers can now, more than ever, enjoy music virtually anytime, anywhere. The digital music revolution is also contributing to the transformation of Warner Music Group from a traditional record and songs-based company into a diverse, music-based content company capable of delivering not only songs and records, but ringtones, master ringtones, music video downloads, album art, lyrics and other content across an ever increasing array of distribution channels, digital devices and music services. Warner Music Group will continue to make digital music and new media a core part of the company's global mission."
Alex Zubillaga, Executive vice President, Digital Strategy and Business Development, Warner Music Group

"There are certain artists whose music appeals very strongly to the mobile customer base but not necessarily to the 30-something male with a broadband connection downloading from iTunes. There are gaps in the market that are not filled by record shops or online services that can be filled by mobile. There are a number of different access points for music and over-the-air is the most convenient for impulse purchasing when you are on the move."
Ed Kershaw, Head of Music, Vodafone

"The walkman changed the way people used to listen to music, turning it into a mobile experience. Now we have iPods, portable PCs and millions of mobile phones; all are becoming mobile music players. I love it. My job is about developing artists and making sure they are paid for their music. Mobile music is fantastic as far as exposure is concerned, but I have now to worry about bringing the revenue back home."
Michel Lambot, Chairman of IMPALA (Independent Music Companies Association)

"We are proud to be the pioneers of a network that will let people explore millions of songs and build a great music community instantaneously, without ripping off the artists. Not only are the songs 100% legal, but our service is adware and spyware free. Building a budding P2P business that is legit is hard work, but ultimately I foresee a bright and busy future for P2Ps like us."
Robert Summer, Executive Chairman, iMesh

"We expect that 2006 will see subscription services become widely accepted as offering consumers the widest choice of music for the best value. In tandem with further growth in portable MP3 player sales, services like Napster To Go will revolutionise how people listen to music by giving them unlimited access to a lifetime's supply of music anytime, anywhere. 2006 will be the year that people embrace the 'own nothing, have everything' philosophy of music subscription."
Chris Gorog, CEO Napster

"With advances in digital technology for the first time in history, vast catalogues of recorded music are instantly and legitimately available to consumers however, wherever, and whenever, they wish to experience it. The ubiquity of available music and the emergence of ever more delivery formats and platforms is creating significant opportunities for artists, entertainment companies and fans."
Thomas Hesse, President, Global Digital Business, Sony BMG Music Entertainment

"The music industry has a common aim with the telecoms companies and ISPs. But we cannot realise this aim alone. Service providers and music distributors must help us - and in doing so, they will help themselves. If you want content, then it needs to be respected and cared for, not abused."
John Kennedy, Chairman and CEO, IFPI Secretariat

"Watching a cultural industry bleeding heavily is a very painful experience. Knowing many of the hundreds of people who have been made redundant over the last three to four years and artists that have been dropped makes it even worse. We know that one of the main reasons for this is illegal file-sharing. That is why we are determined to do everything we can to contain the amount of music being distributed illegally. Would any business anywhere in the world react differently?"
Ludvig Werner, Managing Director for Bonnier Amigo Music (Swedish Independent)

"The ability to enjoy music legally online in a huge variety of ways is becoming such an everyday experience that it's easy to forget just how much progress has been made in the last few years. We have hundreds of legal music sites in Europe today, but the future growth of the legitimate market should not be taken for granted. The European Parliament has an ongoing role to play in encouraging the development of the online market and respect for intellectual property."
Brian Crowley, Irish Member of the European Parliament

"Companies and enterprises internationally, many of whom depend on intellectual property rights to do their business, will welcome the new Copyright and Security Guide. Online copyright theft should not be tolerated in the workplace or by employers, whatever the business sector and whatever the country involved. This initiative clearly explains what actions companies need to take to avoid legal and security risks on their networks."
Guy Sebban, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Commerce

"Piracy affects the entire music industry; all the employees that work at the labels and the recording studios as well as the artist himself. We have to become aware in this country that piracy is theft. New digital technologies should become a new tool for the marketing of music and not a tool to promote illegal downloading."
Gustavo Santaolalla, musician & producer, Latin Grammy Award winner 2005, Argentina

"From the vantage point of internet music distribution, the purchaser must be able to use his purchased music simply, quickly and as completely as possible. Increased sales of digital devices that do not harmonise with all music formats cause confusion and can impede market growth."
Susanne Peter, Director Marketing and Sales, Musicload

"It should be clear by now that piracy in all of its many forms is something that society cares about. The spirited growth of the digital marketplace reflected in this report highlights two important realities: our efforts in helping legitimate digital services to be as dynamic and easy to use as possible have had a significant impact and must continue at a brisk pace; and, second, this report is a sober reminder that even with the greatest music, the most innovative technology and broadest base of enthusiastic fans, the creation of a formidable digital marketplace will only take place through the cooperative efforts of creators, technologists and local and national governments."
Larry Kenswil, President, Universal Music Group's eLabs