The following article covers quite a few areas of the business problems facing the traditional music industry – well written and insightful. However, there is a little bit of the medicine man rain dance in the solution, or at least the way it’s projected, rather than a formal process. One quote stood out – that is important for any business:

“I’m not sure they realize that they are selling art. Right now they could be selling any product. That’s why we have to move — we’re in the art business.” (source)
Every successful business has the elements of art. Look at Apple’s resurgence. Or Mondavi once said they strived for beauty, harmony, and balance in their wines. Or as Bob Lutz in the car business likes to point out that you need to be both right- and left- brained regarding products and services.

If you are designing car parts – see how you can achieve a form of art in the function – even if that part will never be seen by the end user - it will be seen, at least by the service technician while changing the oil, and influence the quality perception and market presence of your product.  Fueling desire and increasing demand.

Art and beauty transform desire – I know from experience – it’s nice to be married to a beauty.

Cheers!

(double ear lobe tug … for my wife who sometimes reads these … hiya honey!).