Music Ally

Pupils in the UK went back to school last week, and it seems there’ll be a few new elements on the curriculum. English lessons will feature more modern novels, geography will have more focus on climate change, and there’ll be new music classes on ‘the use of technology in music’, which will cover issues like intellectual property rights in the music industry, and how that relates to downloads.

Trying to teach The Kids not to steal music might raise a smile, but this is as important a part of the music industry’s strategy as the much-vaunted Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the industry and ISPs to fight file-sharing. That’s as long as the lessons aren’t just ‘don’t do this’, but are as much about looking at the different legal ways to download and/or consume music online.

What’s your view? Not just in the UK, but elsewhere in the world, is there value in putting these issues on the educational curriculum? And if so, what elements do you think are important to include? Let us know by posting a comment.

Nashville-based blues artist Von Johin has signed a record deal with Reality Entertainment. Not particularly interesting in itself, but the way he was discovered is. See, Johin made his name playing virtual gigs in his own venue in Second Life, where he was spotted by Reality Entertainment’s scouts. The company says he’ll (more…)

Extracts from the hour long panel session at MIDEM 2008 on the changing relationship between fans, artists and the music business chaired by Music Ally director Steve Mayall