Apple’s amazing success with the iPod is welcomed by most people who own an iPod, but the big media companies aren’t happy with Apple’s power. Universal reduced their musical offerings on iTunes, and now NBC is abandoning Apple completely. It’s almost as if the Old Media Giants (OMGs) are throwing their last tantrum before they lay down and die. The OMGs can’t figure out how to reach New Consumers who want power and choice. iTunes has been the closest common ground between Old Media and New Consumers, yet. The OMGs aren’t happy to live in a world where consumers have power to do much more than consume, consume, consume. OMGs are greedy at a time they should be humble, and it will be their downfall.
Tomorrow, Apple is announcing something. Most of us are expecting a new line of iPods. The excitement that I would otherwise feel is curtailed by my frustration with OMGs and their unwillingness to fully embrace a new medium that works (content+iTunes+iPod). I LOVE The Office, but if it’s not on iTunes, I can easily live without it. It’s just sad that I have to.
As OMGs throw their tantrums and abandon Apple’s distribution system, I hope Apple will fully embrace consumer empowerment. I’d love to see Steve Jobs somehow burn the OMGs by removing the road blocks to what we want, when we want and how we want entertainment.
I guess I should have gone to Burning Man.
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