says Doug Morris (currently Sony boss but used to run little Big Tree Records whose top artiste was Jonathan King) about the new Apple music streaming project due to start tomorrow. Let's hope he's right (I'm not a fan of streaming).

I hope you’re enjoying Midem. I bet June is a much more pleasant month to be in Cannes than January! I’m personally not a fan of streaming, but then I only download songs, not albums, (though, unlike yourself, I actually like albums - especially on CD. There are often a number of tracks I enjoy and wouldn’t have discovered if I don’t listen to the album - and I can skip the “fillers” easily enough).

With regard to Streaming, as technology evolves, it makes sense to not “own music”. After all, why did most people buy their records originally? My reasoning was to get full control of what I listened to and when. The alternative (in my day) was relying on a radio DJ to play what I wanted to listen to. With streaming I now have access to virtually any piece of music whenever I want to listen to it. So why would I n3eed to own it?

I see “Playlists” becoming very relevant. People, especially influential people, will compile playlists that people will choose to listen too. In fact, I see an opportunity for compiling “Playlist Charts”, where so on so’s playlist was the No.1 Playlist last week. A brand new chart. I wonder who could compile that??!!??

Midem was sadly dying. Old people hobbling along the Croisette, fading in the heat. Contrast with the Film Festival quite frightening. You can see why the "good" news - quantity of music "sold" gone up - suffocated the bad news - value halved. Halved. Since the peak in 2001. Now what else happened in 2001?

Yes. Interesting point made by Doug Morris that the value of the business has halved. It will be interesting to see if streaming, and Apple Music in particular, can return the industry back to its former glory. What I’ve read of Apple’s launch it sounds very positive. The “free to 30th September” is a very attractive proposal. Also, with no Free tier going forward it will put pressure on Spotify and others to alter their offer or risk losing content from the majors - or Universal Music specifically. With regard to the collapse of the industry in 2001. A tiny part was down to the internet, but most of it was down to somebody being forced to take their foot off the gas and eye of the ball whilst they went on a three and a half year extended “holiday” !!!

Thank you Dixie. Yes that was my "subtle" hint! Such a shame. A crucial element of enthusiasm for the industry (and not just the music) was forcibly removed and has never really returned (though Alex Day would deny that).

And sadly I suspect the "rising tide" may drown us all. No doubt the tsunami floated a few boats but that's not all tsunamis do.

The Apple Music launch is raising a few issues. One being if all streaming is free on Apple between June 30th and September 30th, then what is going to shop everybody cancelling their other service subscriptions, (Spotify, Deezer etc.), use Apple until 30th September, and then choose a service of their choice after the 3 months is up. That would mean a serious reduction in revenue for record companies. (As I understand Apple will NOT be paying record companies during those 3 months, as whatever % of revenue - i.e. nothing is nothing!).

So why would a record company release something that has a potential short shelf-life during the next 3 months?