[Editor Charlie sez:  Great analysis of Google’s “United Masters” adventure by Robert Levine.]

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: Record labels are irrelevant because they’ve been disrupted by a venture-funded technology start-up. The major labels exploit artists, who can now distribute their music directly to consumers online, plus get the data they need to make money playing concerts, selling merch or doing sponsorships. Sound familiar?

via @robertblevine_: Will Tech Startups Finally Make Record Labels Obsolete? Not So Fast — Artist Rights Watch