The music still sways
Of late the music business has been receiving good reportage from different quarters. No doubt, it has always been a profitable business, but with the advent of satellite channels, earlier this decade, it has been witnessing boom times.

Editorial
The greatest impact of the Internet, as a parallel technology and distribution medium, has been on the artist. His lifecycle need not now resemble that of the standard business. Possibilities on the Internet can only get better. Musicians sitting in different corners of the world can get together and jam.

Let the good times roll
The biggest innovation since the cassette player is what many in the music industry term the MP3 technology. The concept -- MPEG Audio Layer 3 or simply MP3 -- is turning all accepted ideas of music production and distribution upside down.

Changing thought processes
"As leading technology companies that distribute content via the Internet, we urge the administration to pursue an inclusive treaty that protects the rights of all who perform and distribute audio and video to the public; and to insist that the proposed broadcaster rights treaty grant legal rights and effective legal remedies against piracy of wire and wireless broadcasts, including Internet broadcasting."

New melodies, but still tuneful
Music helps soothe the savage beast, said Shakespeare. As far as India is concerned, it has also been exciting a lot of human souls lately. The foremost indicator of this excitement has been the share price of the venerable Gramophone Company of India (GCIL).

An expensively packaged music
Listening posts are often a snacketeria, with a large background screen, hi-tech speakers and a DJ to boot. The DJs are usually busy with contests and draws, and the atmosphere has a distinct collegian tinge. The brief is to create an occasion and keep the crowd entertained.

Indipop goes the weasel
Wordsworth had commented on the tendency of the month of March to come in like a lion and go out like a lamb. He might well have been talking about Indipop. Four years back, it was the growing segment in music.

GCIL -- Diversifying sounds
The stock trend of Gramophone Company of India (GCIL), in the last five months, is indicative of what the market thinks of its future and that of the music industry at large. The transition, from a loss-making entity to its rightful place as the largest music company in India.

Techno talk
Sonny John, a music teacher and composer, is now working on a hi-tech orchestra totally driven by computers. He talks to Pankaj Joshi of FE Thinktank on music technology and its future.

"Film music weightage is going down"
Gramophone Company of India (GCI) is the oldest player in Indian music. The HMV music library is impressive and it adds quality tracks every year, courtesy a focused and aggressive procurement policy.

"Loyalty is to music, not artistes"
Archies Greetings and Gifts has reported phenomenal growth in operations and profits in the last four quarters. The management now plans to expand Archies Music into the areas of devotional music and regional music.