Music Ally’s predictions for digital music in 2009

We’ve been gazing into our crystal ball to divine what the next year holds in store for digital music, and have come up with a series of predictions. They give a sense of our hopes and expectations for the year ahead. Just don’t come waving them in our faces next December…Artists will kick off about digital rightsSeveral artists have already clashed with their labels over digital royalties – for example the Allman Brothers Band suing UMG – but expect more rumbles in 2009. Not least because artists are potentially getting stiffed when it comes to the raft of new deals being signed by labels for unlimited, subscription-based or ad-supported music services. Expect managers to be pressing for fairer remuneration from these deals, with new bodies like the UK based Featured Artists Coalition to the fore as well.More unlimited music servicesComes with Music (UK) and TDC Play (DK) were just the start. There’ll be many more examples of unlimited music being bundled with other products or services around the world in 2009. The unique aspect of these new models is that consumers appear to get the music for free; and ISPs, handset companies and brands are all taking an interest. We [...]