Many of you have raised valid points which the industry must address in order to survive. What I see as the most critical point is the record label "business and operations model" that must change. The model of signing and promoting an artist for media and digital sales is gone. I believe the real "value" today is in the artist, more so than the music. So labels need to better explore partnerships and vertical and lateral integration. As a person who also writes scientific papers on rhythm, language, and the brain, I approach music as our 1st and still most reliable language today. As such, music can then be marketed and integrated into everything from community and business identities and communications, to health and wellness, TV/radio ads and events, political and corporate philosophies, and science and technology interests. It was no fluke that the artist "Bono" of U2 sucessfully harnessed the biggest ever philanthropy effort in aid for Africa. Such breakthroughs also allowed new anti-war sentiments, and our present environmental GQ culture, not to mention the reserection of former VP Al Gore. The prospects are immense and record label models must change to meet these opportunities. By Stephen Dolle, DOLLE COMMUNICATIONS.