New business model for music industry examined in professor's study

Storm Gloor

Storm Gloor, an assistant professor in the University of Colorado Denver's College of Arts and Media (CAM), was published in the 2009 Journal of the Music & Entertainment Industry Educators Association (MEIEA). His study, "What is 'Choruss' and Should We Sing Along?" examines the origin, philosophies and potential behind a proposed solution to address music piracy.

"Choruss" is the entity that intends to test the concept of allowing consumers to share and/or acquire digital music on an unlimited basis while paying a relatively small monthly fee that would be collected, aggregated, and distributed to copyright owners. Whether consumers, particularly those who acquire content at no cost through unauthorized services, would pay for "Choruss" is one of the many questions to be answered by the related research.

"So much music is acquired without payment to artists and rights holders that if even a fraction of that activity could be monetized and fairly distributed through such a program, it could be vastly beneficial to the music industry," said Gloor, assistant professor of music and entertainment industry studies and area head of the music business program at CAM.

Gloor's research into new models for the music industry contributes to the Music and Entertainment in the Digital Age course he recently developed and is currently teaching.

During the course, CAM students analyze the effects of digital technology on the music industry and how to best develop their career paths given those changes. Students research up-to-the-minute developments in the industry and various philosophies and models related to the future of the music and entertainment business.

MEIEA is an international organization formed in 1979 to bring together educators with leaders of the music and entertainment industries.