While toiling away in the PFF salt mines, I just heard over my satellite radio an entrancing song, Suo Gan, sung by the great baritone Bryn Terfel -- a piece I had never heard before.

Owning this classic was just one-click away, of course, so soon I will be able to hear it again, along with other examples of the rather specialized genre of Welsh folk music.

My satsifaction is enabled by the fact that XM and Amazon can make money from me, not because there is a "community" of Welsh music lovers, or Internet users, or what-have-you that shares things for free.

There are indeed several communities involved -- of XM listeners, of Amazon patrons, of Welsh music lovers -- but their effectiveness in satisfying their members depends on the willingness of all of us to pay our fair share so that we spread the costs of providing the service over a wide base. If we all feel entitled to a a free ride, it won't work. And I will never learn of another Suo Gan.

posted by James DeLong @ 10:18 AM | Markets: Business, Investment & Innovation

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