In the future, trusted guides to new and good music will continue to be media outlets, but bloggers and online social networks can be added to that list.

At a panel on the future of the music consumer (70p kid versus 50quid man),

When music is so available, what they prefer is a trusted guide in the scene.

Nick Watt, director of NMK said: “Rough Trade started Rough Trade album club, where they send a selection for a monthly fee, which is an example of how it’s happened before digital came along. Now it might be a blog or another trusted brand.”

“Most people know that HMV’s ‘store recommendation’s’ are paid-for marketing vehicles, where labels pay for the racking of records at the ends of the aisles. There is very little real recommendation – and it’s gravitating towards online.”