Every 30 years the music industry experiences a paradigm shift with each new generation. And each time this shift occurs, new business processes, new ways of doing business, and new players emerge. However, the music industry is now on the verge of a revolution and there is a completely new transformation of power taking place. By transformation, I mean a fundamental change in the underlying ways that business is done in the music industry.

Graffiti is a new op-ed column that will debut March 2009 on HipHopBlog.com. It is dedicated to the business side of the music industry. I will share my knowledge of the business and social acumen in one of the most powerful and intriguing industries with the mission of peeling back the veil of secrecy and celebrity intrigue, providing readers with transparency, as well as practical and actionable opinion from an objective viewpoint.

The Power Shift of Music, the inaugural issue, examines the landscape and terrain of the new shape up of power in music; who retains it, who's forced to share it, and who flat out loses it.

1. The Label- We examine the future of the label, major and indie, as well as the imprint.

2. Business Model- The new business model with music monetization, live performances, e-ticketing, and mobile Internet radio.

3. Distribution- The new shape of distribution; mobile will be king and the Internet will serve as its agent.

4. Distribution Format- Music and forms in which it is distributed; the single and the mixed format. Digital download vs. streaming.

5. Consumer Control- Pull vs. push marketing. consumer "market" power vs. consumer choice, and the new age consumer focus group.

6. Indie Revolt- Which major artist is uniquely positioned to lead the indie revolution with little to no risk, and why?

The Writings on the Wall.