TED: Beethoven the businessman | José Bowen

The talk explores the evolution of music delivery from ancient times to the digital age, highlighting key technological disruptions such as the piano, music printing, record players, and digital files. It draws parallels between Beethoven and Bill Gates as entrepreneurs and software designers, emphasizing how each adapted to changing hardware. The discussion also covers the effects of these disruptions on music consumption, social interaction, and piracy, concluding with broader implications for other industries like education.

What impact did the radio have on music competition and accessibility?

What parallels can be drawn between Beethoven and modern entrepreneurs in the music industry?

How did Beethoven adapt his compositions in relation to the technology available to him?

Explain how the concept of piracy was addressed by composers like Chopin.