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A review by cookedw
How Music Got Free: The End of an Industry, the Turn of the Century, and the Patient Zero of Piracy by Stephen Richard Witt
5.0
A must-read for any tech geek or music nerd
Gaming directly in the author's age group and recalling this transitory period well, this was a gripping look at some of what transpired behind the scenes to change music forever. While it focuses on just three different people (and a 4th in Oink that helped replace Fraunhofer's role), the breath and complexity of the story woven felt complete.
I think one of the most fascinating elements of the book are the points where with 20-20 hindsight you see just how clueless folks can be about the opportunities in technology. Introducing the telephony jukebox, I immediately thought "Holy cramp, it's Spotify 30 years to early!" Or the hubris of the music industry.
I found myself being shamefully impressed with a music executive, despite my low opinion of the industry. And that's okay. This is a compelling read, with many layers.
Gaming directly in the author's age group and recalling this transitory period well, this was a gripping look at some of what transpired behind the scenes to change music forever. While it focuses on just three different people (and a 4th in Oink that helped replace Fraunhofer's role), the breath and complexity of the story woven felt complete.
I think one of the most fascinating elements of the book are the points where with 20-20 hindsight you see just how clueless folks can be about the opportunities in technology. Introducing the telephony jukebox, I immediately thought "Holy cramp, it's Spotify 30 years to early!" Or the hubris of the music industry.
I found myself being shamefully impressed with a music executive, despite my low opinion of the industry. And that's okay. This is a compelling read, with many layers.