Honestly, that's the way things are going, ptommy.
Anywho, this isn't about saying this one specific idea is the future. It's more, "Hey, here's this idea, this idea, this idea and this idea. You tell me how much this idea appeals to you and from that we all kind of decide as a whole group which idea is best. So, there's a lot of ideas being tossed around. Just a couple of examples:
Music as a utility:
Packaged with your internet fee, more than likely. For, say, 10 or 12 bucks a month flat fee, you download all the music you want.
Pay-What-You-Want with escalating incentives:
The Radiohead idea, expanded. Offer incentives to donate money. Higher quality files at $1, bonus artwork at $3, individual tracks at $5, bonus tracks at $10. It doesn't even have to be directly about music. A band could get as creative as they want with this by offering, I don't know, a flash game they made or they could give away autographed vinyl, or a webcam interview with the band, or concert tickets. You know, whatever.
Music taxes:
Kind of a play off of the taxes they have in Germany that keep Opera there running 24/7/365. Built into the federal tax to fund touring musicians in the United States. This is a long shot but, hey, if enough voices got behind this, why not?
Other ideas are more than welcome to be discussed and added. Like I said, this isn't about saying "DO THIS IDEA" it's more, "Here are a bunch of ideas, music industry, you have to change, here are some statistics that back up saying IDEA B is the one most likely to continue making you money, and it would make your disenfranchised music listeners a bit happier."
So, yeah.
Thanks again!