This 'digital archeology' program represents a serious commitment to go further into the past, and to begin to take advantage of the benefits for artists and for music fans of digital download technology. Hopefully, the first round of recordings selected for this initiative will start to satisfy consumer demand, as more and more people buy their music online.

The market keeps growing, and there will be winners and losers. The fact that there are 355 retailers -- are they all economically viable? Clearly the market is adjusting all the time.

It's also a bloody good record.

This program will offer material that, in some cases, goes back to the early days of recorded music.