Public media & digital music innovation: a debate at SXSW
This year I have again submitted an idea for a talk at SXSW and the public voting process has now started. This time I have decided not to submit a panel idea like in previous years but I want to try something different: Ben Perreau and I will debate on the influence of Public Broadcasters on digital music innovation and its positive and negative effects, you can find the whole description below.
As always we appreciate your votes in the SXSW PanelPicker and feel free to leave comments about what we should cover in our debate.
This is the idea we suggested:
Public media & digital music innovation: a debate
This debate will consider digital innovation in an environment with public broadcasters. Jonas Woost (Executive producer for Radio 3 at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) will defend their role and Ben Perreau (Director of digital content at Global Radio / previously an entrepreneur) will consider the negative effects.
Public broadcasters have long played a vital role in media, not only by providing citizens with independent information but also through universal entertainment. Publicly-funded organizations like CBC and NPR have tirelessly championed new music, supported artists that struggle to find audiences on commercial outlets and helped provide a test-bed for innovation. On the other hand public broadcasters, free from the constraints of commerce, have strayed into areas where private enterprise might. As a result, countless innovations from the likes of startups and commercial businesses may never have come to light. To what extent does this inhibit plurality and the economies of places where public broadcasters operate?
Questions answered
- Should/shouldn’t public broadcasters develop digital music products such as streaming services, social music etc?
- How do public broadcasters compete with digital music services from commercial providers?
- With the difficulty in finding investment for digital music services should public broadcasters consider investing in this sector?
- With VCs and advertising clients looking for a quick return when dealing with digital music services, do public broadcasters and their ‘long view’ provide a useful alternative?
- How can public broadcasters continue to support niche or emerging music in a digital context that might not find exposure on commercial outlets?
Tags: digital music, panelpicker, public broadcasters, sxsw