First of all i have to show my dismay on the hearing the news that Strictly Rhythm has closed down. Labels of that pedigree and consistentcy in this day and age are a dying breed. The MP3 dilemma is cutting corporate americas pocket while decimating independant labels. The money-making buggers will ride out the storm while the smaller cottage-industrys will keep going under until a solution can be found. If things go on as they are Sony will end up making a buck out of buying defunct labels back catalogues and selling them to us at some later date. One of the things that for me is synomynous with decent music is a strong infrastructure or scene that can support itself. One where people who support artists, labels, DJs, clubs and can see the effects of their support and help it grow furthur. I may be stating the obvious but it seems that so maney people i meet seem to think that music which is free of commercial restraints seems to grow on trees. My girlfriend is a great exampe of this; she goes clubs, downloads mp3s, copies her friends latest compilation CD's. The only benefactor of my girlfriends spending is the club promoter and the DJ, who incidently never has to pay for his records??? The best way to make her realise some of the damage she is doing to the scene is being telling her the score or the economic damage of her actions, and then reinforcing point by calling her things like 'MP3 whore' and 'cheapskate indie label killer.' This has had results as the music she really likes she will go and buy. She actually feels empowered knowing that the music she buys is a show of the scene she is supporting. Whats my point? I'm not too sure but next time you're at your friends flat check to see how many originals he has.....