The current writers' strike in Los Angeles shows how outdated the existing contractual models of production are. Studios and music labels refuse to acknowledge the paradigm shift brought by web technologies, preferring to race towards the big hard wall with all their might, contemptuous self-glory and counterproductive rules and regulations -- thus driving talent and consumers away.
Meanwhile, the world moves on. Without them. In this month's Wired, David Byrne writes about the increasing irrelevance of music labels. He also discusses the real value of music with Thom Yorke of Radiohead, who made their latest CD available online for anyone to enjoy and contribute if they want. John Malkovich has a new project: a collaborative online script, all writers welcome. And the French site MyMajorCompany brings together artists, projects and wannabe producers, so you too can own a piece of the next hit. YouTube, MySpace and other "killer apps" ensure promotion and distribution.These are only a few examples in a wide-range of initiatives that will eventually render the "majors" obsolete. That they have been resisting the change, rather than embrace it with all the means at their disposal, is further proof of their irrelevance.
photo of writers' strike Joey Maloney via LAist
