In my previous post, I described a basic music experience that I would like to have. In this convenient experience there are two types of content with two classifications.

A. The two types of content. Let’s call them:
1. Official Content .
2. User Generated Content , or should I say Fan Generated Content.

and,

B. The two classifications of content. Let’s call them:
1. Free Content. Content that is readily offered without thought to compensation.
2. For Sale Content. Content that the owner wishes to make some financial return. It may be offered for free in lieu of other considerations.

So we have four quadrants:

Quadrant 1: Facts

(Top Left)
The upper right quadrant of Free/Official content. This is the metadata and factoids for the song, album, or artist in question. It can also be the meta-media, which the copyright holder is offering openly for consumption, such as album art, liner notes, possibly even lyrics.

Quadrant 2: Original and Fair Use

(Top Right)
This is original and fair use content generated by the fan. This is the reviews, photos, artwork, opinion, etc. It may even be copyrighted material under fair use provisions.

Quadrant 3: Creative Works

(Bottom Left)
This is the creative content developed by the artist(s). This includes audio, video, pictures, imagery, interactive content, etc. Consumption can be “Free”, and compensated by other modes other than money. This can be any type of content not just the typical song, pics, and video. Think interactive digital items. Widgets if you must, but don't limit your thinking to the common Flash widgets populating the web-o-sphere at the moment.

Quadrant 4: Derivative Works

(Bottom right)
This is content that has been remixed, mashed-up, reused and re-published as a derivative work. The question mark represents content that will be anything that reuses column 1 content. Like quadrant 3, we shouldn't pigeonhole this region to video, pics, audio, etc. Also, let's not forget that other artists can be fans, too.

We believe this is the essential architecture for a digital media package solution.

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?

Three years ago, I began asking the question what if music was free. I should have been clear, by music I meant the audio file.

At that time however, I had trouble convincing anyone that DRM was doomed. It was pointless and an only an obstruction to the industry evolving. I know that everyone now believes DRM is dead, but three years ago, people looked at me like I was crazy. I tried to talk to VCs and media pundits about investing in or covering media technologies that would emerge in a non-DRM world. Laughter would have been a more pleasant response than what I got. One "Angel Investor" even told his colleague in a crowded room - in my presence - this guy (motioning toward me) doesn't understand how the business world works. His idea doesn't have a chance. I only thought of my bright cheeky reply the next day as I was fuming in bed. I hate when that happens.

So, there was very little reason for me to try and convince anyone that my experience was also telling me that audio files are going to eventually be priced at the margins. That would be near the cost of delivery. That would mean "near free".

Kevin Kelly, Chris Anderson, Gerd Leonhardand Fred Wilson are finally galvanizing opinion that business models exist around offering the underlying media for free (you may have no other choice).

Although music is what most are focused on today. The same is true for any media which can be digitized.

Answer the question:
How am I going to make money if everyone can get my media for free?
Once you answer that you need to ask, how can I get people to ACCEPT/TAKE my media because I need their ATTENTION to it to make money?

Welcome to the new world.