A precautionary tale…

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It’s been a part of each generation’s best memories for 131 years, but it appears time has run out.

There is irony here, because Kodak invented the digital camera, in 1975, but could never imagine the company without the idea of selling film as well.

You see, film produced huge margins and Kodak had a near-monopoly on it.

“We had this self-imposed opinion of ourselves that we could do anything, that we were undefeatable.”

Kodak was the Google, the Apple, of its time. As that spot proves, they were a great company, which did so many things right.

The end began almost imperctibly, 30 years ago, when the Japanese started selling quality film for less money than Kodak charged, content to accept smaller margins.

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Radio in 2012 cannot imagine itself without 30-35% margins and hitting these margins requires cutting quality people, slashing research and marketing budgets, and adding commercial inventory, even though we know listeners hate most commercial interruptions

And now we have competitors — Pandora, Spotify, et.al. — selling quality musical entertainment for much, much less, content to accept smaller margins.

There is irony here too.

People haven’t stopped loving pictures. They haven’t stopped creating lasting memories to share with future generations.

They haven’t stopped loving music, the sheer joy of discovering a new song they love; they haven’t stopped wanting remarkable, compelling content, a friend to share their commute, someone who can make them laugh and feel their tears.

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“Some think it’s holding on that makes one strong; sometimes it’s letting go.” ~ Sylvia Robinson

Can you hear that sound?

Drip, drip, drip…

Even granite gives way to the steady drip of water.