Mobile-recorded music has gone from all but non-existent to all-pervasive in a matter of about forty years. From cassettes, to CDs, to MP3s, to streaming audio and video, we’ve enjoyed a steady progression toward more sophisticated devices and delivery systems. As it stands today, we can stream music, movies, television, videos, podcasts and more — virtually anything, anywhere, anytime we want it. End of story, right?
Not exactly. In his interview with iHeart Radio’s The Restless Ones podcast, sponsored by T-Mobile for Business, CIO of Universal Music Group (UMG), Dan Morales, believes we’re just getting started. He’s been a leader in tech and business for many years at companies as diverse as Continental Airlines, Bank of America, and eBay. And now he’s bringing his expertise—and his vision of the future—to the entertainment industry.
How to carry a tune
Today’s digital entertainment platforms have come a long way. But while they do provide convenience and selection, quality has been a necessary compromise. The industry had to find ways to reduce the size of the files it was sending consumers. As Morales points out, “It was all about getting the best compression, because bandwidth was always the issue. We used to think of music as MP3s because that’s how it’s been compressed down.”
Of course, compression means something is left out. For audiophiles (and cinephiles), the full experience is diminished. But 5G technology provides such a wide range of bandwidth, compression won’t be necessary in the future.