NARM White Paper Explores Digital Music’s Technical Challenges
NARM and its Digital Think Tank have just released "Digital Supply Chain & Operations” which explores operational issues facing the music industry as it transitions to digital.
The report takes on the uber-technical issues the surround the accurate and efficient delivery of music and related
metadata. If you've ever tried
to clean up you mp3 collection much less move an album from one digital
distributor to another on iTunes, you begin to understand it's
importance.
"Accurate and efficient communication of release information and sales reporting is the backbone of the current music business, and most importantly, what the business is to become," states Bill Wilson, NARM Director of Digital Strategy and Business Development.
Key issues include:
- Implementation of Digital Data Exchange (DDEX) standards
- Universal, unchanging song and album IDs to simplify takedowns and rights changes
- Creation of easy-to-integrate feeds of marketing information
- Integrating unique identifiers into royalty processes for multiple digital formats
The NARM Digital Think Tank is a special task force within NARM dedicated to resolving issues related to the enterprise-level digital music business. The Digital Think Tank’s Digital Supply Chain & Operations Work Group includes Amazon.com, Apple, Consolidated Independent, EMI Music, IODA, Medianet, Mix & Burn, Neurotic Media, Nokia, Sony Music, Topspin Media, Universal Music Group Distribution, and WEA.
You can obtain a free copy of the report here.
Sounds like there needs to be a class taught in metadata 101. This has to be a collective effort amongst everyone involved with the content delivery process, artists, producers, managers, labels, distr., stores, etc. It’s still widely viewed as a sales issue. There is a good deal of revenue being left on the table due to incomplete, or inaccurate metadata reporting. What this paper also suggests is that along with better reporting standards, the increased need for transparency is also warranted. Thanks NARM…..