One of those new revenue streams the record companies are keen to tap into is brand partnerships and sponsorship - though that, of course, is a domain more traditionally dominated by the live sector. I'm mentioning that here simply as a way of bringing up another big change in the live music sector this year - the disappearance of the Carling brand from live music properties.
The lager brand, for years by far the most dominant brand in music sponsorship, withdrew from the space big time, leaving a vacuum in the main filled by O2, the phone firm who seem to want their brand on every music venue in the country - seemingly having a big round dome named in their honour just isn't enough. On the beer side of the equation, it's Tuborg who seem to want to take ownership of music. Expect to see them at an increasing number of music events in 2009.
That said, Tennents continue to dominate music sponsorship North of the border, despite them withdrawing from some of their long-term music partnerships in Scotland this year, though not the biggest of them all, T In The Park. The money saved from that withdrawal was invested in my favourite music sponsorship of the year - Tennents Mutual - if you're not familiar with it, go check it out.