That's a great quote "KPMG reserves the right to request removal of any link to our website."

I reserve the right to request that everyone call me exalted ruler of all matter. I may (or may not) make this request at any time.

Well, Cowboy X, it looks like their linking policy has changed since that article was written. They now say:

"KPMG is obligated to protect its reputation and trademarks and KPMG reserves the right to request removal of any link to our website."

"Explicit permission is required to use the KPMG logo. To request this written approval, contact the Webmaster or use the "Contact Us" feature."

"The following web link activities are explicitly prohibited by KPMG and may present trademark and copyright infringement issues:

    * Links that involve unauthorized use of our logo
    * Framing, inline links or metatags
    * Hyperlinks or a form of link that disguises the URL and bypass the homepage"

I'm not sure what they mean by "metatags", but the rest of it seems pretty reasonable. I think the last item means they don't want other sites pretending that a KPMG page is part of the other site.

So maybe they've learned a little, and now they're trying to enlighten the media industries.

Am I the only person who finds it ironic that KPMG of all companies is talking intelligently about digital music?

File-sharing nets aren't just (or even primarily) about getting stuff for free, and it's just as doctrinaire to pretend that the only value of a P2P net is that is doesn't cost anything as it is to pretend that getting stuff for free is irrelevant.

P2P nets offer other major benefits to their users, including:

* Music-on-demand

* A diverse catalog that includes rarities, live cuts and deletes, as well as indies

* Music in digital form, with metadata already in place, ready to be burned or moved to a mobile device

* Community and a sense of belonging

* Instant gratification

* Infinite browsability

All of these are unarguably part of a great user-experience that the labels can't deliver through normal channels. There's a demand signal and the traditional players aren't answering it; rather, they're spending millions to tell their customers that they're wrong.

Isn't it a little silly for a consulting firm to issue a report whose major insight is that there is a market for things that are free? You think?

However, if listeners have a choice of unregulated P2P choices versus a corprate structured pay-P2P service, I think many are going to go for the free one.

I hear this pretty often, and I wonder about it. CDs *are* too expensive, but if you could support your favorite band by purchasing and downloading their latest CD for a reasonable amount ($2 maybe?), wouldn't you prefer to do that instead? Maybe it's just me.

I love file sharing, and I think it's a great way to listen to music. I have purchased a few CDs after getting them from Napster, P2P, opennap, etc. However, I have downloaded many complete albums and as such, I have no motivation to purchase the CD.

I think the quoted statement more realistically should say something like "But why do the Napsters exist, because they are an easy way to get free music." I agree that the RIAA are a bunch of evil juggernauts who are not interested in consumers, nor the artists. CDs are insanely priced. However, if listeners have a choice of unregulated P2P choices versus a corprate structured pay-P2P service, I think many are going to go for the free one.

I say we should just ignore corporate labels and do everything we can to promote independent labels and distribution. On the other hand, I'm not a visionary, so I have no clue how to accomplish that.

Interesting that the report preemptively keeps the media company bigwigs from trying to slough the blame off on their underlings. It's also interesting the way they tie it into the whole corporate governance and accounting standards upheaval.

I'm curious who sponsored this study. Did KPMG just do it pro bono for the publicity? Perhaps they hope that some of the media companies they chastise will hire them as consultants to come in and review the companies' digital media plans and propose new strategies. I doubt KPMG did this purely from a love of MP3s!