I talked about how the Barenaked Ladies USB music package "Barenaked on a Stick" had some promising ideas around content packaging but the experience was ripped away. So I thought I would describe a simple experience that I would like to have, starting with one of my all time favourite songs.

So, here is what I think a simple recorded music experience could be.

I have a music audio file. Now here is an important point – it doesn’t matter where or how I got it. If you think it matters where I got that file, you should stop reading now. The rest will be lost on you.

In my case the song is Money by Pink Floyd. It’s one of my favourite all time songs.

I want to play it in my music player. Any damn music player I want. In this case my Xbox.

I want the player to tell me some facts about the song.
The album, when it was recorded, who played on it, general liner notes, maybe the lyrics, you know standard factoid stuff.

I would like to be offered more content, too. Give me some videos, interviews, icons, flash movies, and pictures. I never did hear the live solo recording David Gilmore did of Money. Give me that, too.

I would also like to have access to all the fan generated content around the song. Fan art, pics, videos. What part of The Wizard of Oz is playing to Money in The Dark Side of the Rainbow? Does The Dark Side of the Moon and The Wizard of Oz really synch-up? Show me.

I want the ringtones, sure. Whatever.

Gimme the files for my iPod, but can you replace my crappy 128 MP3s (who cares where I got them from) with 256 AAC while you’re at it? Thanks.

Is Roger Waters still touring and performing The Dark Side of the Moon?

Hey, I couldn’t get to Live 8 to see the reunion concert. Could I watch the Live 8 HD recording of Money? Cool.

Oh, and I want to mash-up and remix all the digital media, too. That would be fun.

I want to know when other fans of Money make interesting mash-ups and remixes.

I want to know when that unheard of band in Youngstown, Ohio does the definitive cover of Money. I’ll be the judge if it is the definitive cover by the way, thank-you very much.

Hey if the band ever releases that early demo track of Money from 1970, can you give me that too please. Thanks.

I want everyone to know that I am a big fan of Pink Floyd and Money is one of my all-time favourite songs. It is important and it’s true.

And for God’s sake let me know immediately and give me front of the line tickets if Pink Floyd ever tours together again. I mean it. Don't you dare forget me.

Now understand that’s just one simple experience. One of many, but that’s something I will pay for, but please make it convenient!

What’s your experience?

Yahoo! Music's Ian Rogers posted his presentation from THE ASPEN LIVE CONFERENCE

It has already caused quite a stir - picked up by:
Bob Lefsetz
Tech Crunch
Read Write Web
Mathew Ingram

Ian has been a big supporter of what we are doing at Project Opus - in particular our DYLAN project which has transformed into what we are now calling JAMM. He was a big help in getting our funding to research music packaging experiences. He illustrates a simple use case using my favourite band, Pink Floyd. However, JAMM like other open media and play the web technologies is a much more than what was described.

This has been a process of discovery for close to 2 years for us, and we actually don't assume that we have the perfect solution. In fact until other companies and individuals start sharing their ideas and working together there simply is not going to be a solution. Having said that and considering the mass amount of e-mail Ian's post has generated to my in-box, I think it is about time we start talking about our thoughts and experiences on this subject, and what is needed to pull it off.

I've given presentations on this issue for over a year now, and usually get "It will never happen, the industry will never go for it. Content authoring must be controlled. How do I get my 50%?"

BAH!

Thanks Ian and Lucas for exposing our work and finally bring the industry eyes to this issue. Fun times ahead.