A couple of years ago, I had this GREAT idea where an online music service would move to the Cloud and that service would only have to host 1 copy of any song, album, video, etc.; and a "purchase" just got you (and everyone else who purchased a copy) access to that copy in the Cloud.  Your compatible music/media player could download a copy, but everything lived in the Cloud, and you could access that from anywhere (as long as you had either a decent network (3G (now 3G/4G) signal, decent WiFi signal or wired network connection).

I shoulda patented the idea. If I had, I prolly coulda retired after selling it to either Apple, Google, or anyone else with the juice to get ‘er dun.  Yes, after hearing about this on MacRumors, I’ve been kicking myself for the past couple of weeks or so…

However, as 3G (UMTS and HSPA+) networks and WiFi hotspots (and as 4G networks begin rolling out in select markets), become more prevalent I firmly believe that music services are headed to the Cloud.  Some kind of model, either similar to the one I outlined above or to Zune/iTunes (some kind of local copy synced to your laptop/music player/device of choice) and to the vapor, is definitely in our future.

Things like Google TV, or even a couple of rumors about AppleTV and the Cloud have been circulating with enough believability to make even the anti-cloud guy in me stop and think long and hard about it.

Yes… Me. "Mr. Hey You, Get [My Stuff out] of My Cloud."

However, every Cloud model of ANY service I’ve seen contains one HUGE, single, point of failure – The Cloud itself.

Connectivity to the cloud is NOT ubiquitous. There are still a LOT of places in the country, still a great many users, that are still on DIAL-UP believe it or not!  3G coverage isn’t everywhere yet (just ask any AT&T user).  Not every Starbucks, McDonalds or (picka restaurant/bookstore) has free WiFi.  Comcast/Xfinity doesn’t reach into every corner of every state JUST yet…

Things like MS Office Online or Google Docs, or (pick a service…it really doesn’t matter) is all nice and good until- POOF! – The cloud evaporates, and your stuck in the middle of Butt-Crack Nowhere without your stuff…until the cloud comes back (one way or another).

Personally, I really DO think that your music (new music…not your EXISTING library) is likely headed to some sort of Cloud model.  What that model is and how it gets implemented is another story entirely.

What do you think?  Please feel free to sound off in the comments below and give us your thoughts.

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