I keep asking myself the same questions I was hunting for in the 21st Century thread. I'm looking forward to further discussion on this topic via PM from a couple of members who expressed interest in taking the conversation in an alternate direction from the one it ended up taking.
Basically, I just don't see what kind of big business would further invest in the music industry. It has been said over and over, here on these boards, and elsewhere, that they just don't care about the music. To many of us, music is a passion. Mega-profits would not even come into play as a factor. I truly believe that the recording industry, at one point in time, thrived on passion. It was run by people who were truly passionate about music. Big business came along, saw the potential profits and made a pop culture out of it. These profits are disappearing. I hope that big businesses back out. Soon. Or at least back away.
I'm sorry, but anyone with intentions of getting rich by investing in the recording and marketing of other people's music is delusional. The fact that this was, at any time, a viable opportunity to make a shit-ton of money, is upsetting.