This subject is getting worn out, but this blog post by Seth Godin is right on the spot. It’s amazing that the Big Five (well, not really five anymore) doesn’t get it.

The only new business niche they have gotten into is selling songs and ring tones to mobile phone owners and that was of course not their own idea. The mobile operators approached them with the concept. At first, the music industry was reluctant to the idea, but at least they gave it a try. Obviously they are now surprised that they can make money from something else then plastic discs.

Last year, I met one of the bosses from Sony BMG at a conference where he was talking about a successful deal they made with one of the European mobile operators. My guess is that he was the only one in the room that was surprised by the success.