Good book: Net, Blogs and Rock' Roll by David Jennings

David Jennings' book Net, Blogs and Rock'n'Roll is well a worth a read - lots of great stuff in here; definitely recommended if you want to catch up on digital music trends. I  met David several times *see below for evidence.

Net, Blogs and Rock'n'Roll charts how digital discovery works, from the automated recommendation services that suggest what titles you might want to explore based on your previous preferences, through to the ways that we share word-of-mouth recommendations online. It outlines the three strands of digital discovery -- TLC: Trying Out, Links and Community -- and explains how the history, culture and technology of today's media are interwoven with the rise of personalization and mobile players. It profiles the groups of consumers and their various approaches to discovery, and outlines the pyramid of influence: Savants and Enthusiasts record
their finds, express their opinions and lead communities of fellow consumers, while other groups are more passive participants.

Net, Blogs and Rock'n'Roll reviews the strategies that creators should adopt in the new era to maximize their chances of being discovered and reaching a broad audience. It shows the new breed of smart intermediaries how to support discovery by finding fresh ways of getting exposure for their material, developing buzz, and encouraging people to exchange recommendations with their friends.

"Jennings is spot on when discussing how people discover music today, and in recognizing that it
has become impossible for tastemaking to revert to monopoly held by the few. The book is rife
with amusing metaphors and nuggets, It's a comprehensive and enjoyable read." Eliot van
Buskirk, Wired (Listening Post blog)

More reviews: http://www.netblogsrocknroll.com/reviews.html
Extract: http://www.netblogsrocknroll.com/preface.html
General: http://www.netblogsrocknroll.com/