I was in the coffee shop today and -- as as happened many times in my life -- I heard some music playing that I liked and I wondered who the artist was, and the name of the song. This information was, of course, not available. There's an opportunity here. Lots of public places play music for the public to enjoy, often just a radio, but these days more and more I think the music must come from some service or another because the places I've been don't suffer from commercials and DJs.
Here's what I should have been able to do once I realized that I liked the song that was playing. I should have been able to walk over to a console mounted on the wall of the coffee shop, put in my credit card, and bought the song (say, for $0.99). If I'd had my iPod, I should have been able to download it right there. When I get home it should be waiting for me in my account on some web site the next time I'm on the net.
The coffee shop should get a cut of the sales, plus they shouldn't have to pay whatever service they're paying now to provide them with music (assuming that's how it happens). Win-win for them. Who's going to turn down a new revenue stream that replaces a cost?
The console should also be able to act as a jukebox of sorts so that rather than listening to 'default' music, customers of the place can request tunes. That part should be free -- airplay is advertising, after all.
Record companies and artists win because people who like their music but don't know what it is can buy it on impulse.
The losers are "traditional" music outlets. With digitial distribution, all the latest releases will be available as part of the sound system at the nearest coffee shop. What do we need music stores for?