For more than a decade, record companies have warned of the dire consequences of illegal downloading of music and the imminent demise of their industry. Though many mom-and-pop record shops have indeed disappeared, the big record companies have not only survived but, according to Arditi, have strengthened their dominance of music culture. Far from being defensive reactions to widespread digital piracy, the prosecutions of Napster and the passage of legislation by Congress were part of an offensive strategy on the part of record companies to maintain their profits. Arditi divides this book into four main parts: Transformations in the Recording Industry, on the move to digital; The State in Music, on the role of government; The Recording Industry and Labor; and Digital Distribution and Surveillance. In each section the author shows how society has lost as corporations gained advantage. However, as Arditi concludes, despite the efforts by the record companies, the consuming public and performing musicians refuse to acquiesce totally to the industry view of how music should be consumed today. A valuable resource for those interested in the future of music in society. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readers.