NAMM Update

So the NAMM conference is taking place and though I'm not there this year I'm interested in lots of the products being announced there. I'm also interested in the spat between the record industry and Apple. The following quote from one record exec, said in frustration, sums up the debate for me:

“Apple is going to listen to their customers before they listen to the industry,” he said. “They have a commercial advantage.”

And this just in:

“I'm hearing that the artists aren't happy, the publishers aren't happy. Someone other than Apple needs to be happy for this industry to grow,” said Amit Shafrir, president of AOL's premium services arm.

With due respect to Mr. Shafrir, I don't think anyone would accuse AOL of having their fingers on the pulse of what keeps people happy.