For a blogger that covers the music industry, it is particularly frustrating that the Bible (a.k.a. Billboard) has been locked behind a subscription toll booth. Another publication, Hits, requires Flash and a corny target practice excercise to allow entrance. In the case of Billboard, some articles have been available for non-subscribers, and a few are carried by Reuters. They've been stuck between a diminishing circulation and a need to seriously enter the digital age, and Billboard.biz has felt like a compromise.

Now Billboard.biz has been revamped. It's an improvement, no doubt about it. There are more articles available -- I linked to one this morning by retail guru Ed Christman -- and a better design. The site is still slow as molasses, though. I hope that improves.

In the past I wrote that the music industry has failed in one important online aspect: It has let technology writers tell its story. For years, Wired and similar sites have done a better job covering hot digital music issues than have free-of-charge music sites. The many Billboard op-ods and features have been seen by only the fraternity of industry employees who put their subscription on an expense report. As Billboard expands its free online offerings, there is a chance that online discourse will improve and bring greater objectivity to the debates surrounding the collision of music and digital entertainment.

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