Digital technology has had a significant impact on the music business and continues to change the industry in ways that could not have even been predicted only a few years ago. Digital distribution of music through download services, subscription services and mobile download, ringtone & ringback services have become the growth channels for the music business as sales of the CD format continues its steady decline.

Digital technology has also empowered artists by allowing them to record, distribute and market their music without a record label. Not too long ago the only way to get a record made and widely distributed was by signing a recording contract with a record label .

The web first provided artists an opportunity to directly reach fans through their website and email lists. Today the web enables artists to reach their fans through a seemingly never ending list of online retailers, mobile products, social networking sites, blogging, podcasts and video.