COVID-19, a reset button to the world

As older millennial, I have enjoy decades of peace and prosperity. In old days villager boy grow up by the river in remote area of Sumatera did not have luxury of electricity, cars of any big city would enjoy. 
But we never called ourselves as poor, under-developed, and we never self-pity. Grew up strong and happy, and against all odd found out able to survive and thrive.

Over the years I started to understand, the economic growth is not as smooth as childhood dreams.
Expert of the world has predicted every 10 years there would be economic downturn, and every 20 or so years there would be major changes of world political direction. There was global economic crisis around 1990s which I'm still too you to understand. Then the hard-hit economic crisis 1997-1998 across Asia, including Indonesia which causing the country major political turmoils. 2007-2008 also US debt crisis impact to most country across Asia and Europe.

Since then, we all who have invested in bonds, stock, forex, should have enjoyed proper (read: exponential) yield. Ten years has passed since last crisis. Experts predicted there would be recession in next few months. Economic downturn signal has shown in several sectors in US and EU. That was before the new corona virus COVID-19 comes into picture.

A CDC computer rendering of the surface of SARS-CoV-2, the virus strain that causes COVID-19.

Now the bigger cycle called centennial plague, happen every 100 years or so. Through out the history, mankind challenged by diseases causing mass casualties.
The year 2020 is just like perfect storm. We already worried about recession, adding COVID-19 strikes right at he heart of world manufacturing sites (China).

We still at the early stage of the storm. SARS last for 9 months - 1 years. MERS 6 months. COVID-19 has only started 3 months since outbreak. This time nothing like past times. The global scales and the economy impact of the event still unaccounted. 

Just like a reset button, it sets new baseline for sectors of our life. Supply chain interrupted with city lock downs and decreases of demand. Suddenly everything need to be slowed down. Government postpone development plans and instead, assign the budget more to COVID relieve efforts. Factory and offices are closed. People had to work from and forced stay at home. Activity that supposed lift up community spirit such as music and sport events also being cancelled.

It bring huge impact to our earth, to climate and pollution, since less cars on the road, less tree to be chop down, and less mine pit to be dig.
To remind us what is matter us the most. To remind us what is sufficient. 
Because we simply cannot grow forever, sometimes need take a break. 
As it only a break, NOT A STOP, we all will bounce back, grow stronger with new paradigm, using new and more disruptive way on marketing, channel and technology.  



Reference.

Ray Dalio - Big Debt Crises (2018)

Why a three-partied world is so important

Recently we've seen to heat up of mobile operating system competition, involving big names from Google with Android as rising star, Apple iOS with certain fanatic users, and several other with smaller user base, such as RIM's Blackberry, Microsoft Windows Mobile and the blast from the past, Symbian. As market share for those smaller OS is (claimed) declining, perhaps we can say only two OS rule the mobile world now : Android and iOS. These two combined believed have market share up to 80% per 2011, is not a good situation for surround industry, such as wireless provider, application/game developer, and content provider. With big market share, they two can command the direction they wanted. Luckily they seems not get along well, but if they do, mobile world could be theirs with other only supporting role. 

In the past, we've seen  how Zuge Liang with his intelligent insisted a world (although that time only China) with three main ruler. And seems the setting could balanced the ambition and power to rule over other country. And then during cold war, there's initiative to setup new forces to balance it. 

And in Indonesian history, there a three-partied policy proven lasted 3 decades, although it crashed as it actually only one dominant player.

Now, in mobile world, the third player still vacant. No one could claim it now, because of their user base is not significant compared to the two ruler. It's not only Operating system matters, but ecosystem. How surrounding industry supports and user willing to give it a try at the new challenger. In my opinion, the surrounding industry must involve to ensure the third-ecosystem could grow as the other two

For challenger ecosystem, I hope they can, finally, found a way how to synergy and team up as an important third-ecosystem to balance the mobile world. And for kick start, maybe you can create universal messaging system across platform to "steal" some user.

Update : Found this video shows how "tripoly" instead of duopoly :)

Instant Messaging of future

As technology becomes main agent for human interaction nowadays, more and more people connecting to each other indirectly, could via voice, text and video. The  way is texting via instant messaging (IM).

When SMS and voice communication is so yesterday, im offer more attractive and add value to the communication. The killer features is group messaging and ability to attach rich media file into the chat. Other high demanded feature such as share location, virtual activity also available depend on protocol and device.

There are so many IM protocol currently available. From the legendaries ICQ, IRC from the first dot-com booming during new millennia. Then internet giant enters the competition for their users such as Yahoo with Y!msgr, Google with Gtalk, Microsoft/Hotmail with Live (recently acquired Skype), Facebook Chat, AOL and many more that has no significant user. The most recent is smartphone/service vendor to push their own protocol. There are RIM with Blackberry Messenger, Nokia with Ovi chat,  Whatsapp, some local brand like Nexian Messenger and Esia Messenger. 

Remember old day where we can only send SMS within same operator/network, operator never thought the SMS could be one of their revenue machine. But when SMS inter-operator is available, instantly SMS become ultimate revenue generator.  Imagine internet with no inter-networking capability, telephone with no inter-operator switching,  email can only send to same domain user, closed group IM has no future, unless it can communicate thru all protocols/provider.

So IM service provider should start collaborate the chatting inter-operates across protocol. Some already started with limited partners, like Ovi can talk to Gtalk, Y!msgr to MSN (maybe with Skype too?), but still not as one global inter-protocol IM. Only by all-connected protocol, IM will be considered important way to socialize at least for years to come. No more one ID for every protocol if we want to chat with people in the group.

Affordable internet but with fair usage policy

Affordable internet finally available !

With a series of new regulation from Ministry of Communication and Information (Menkominfo), now internet subcription is getting affordable. Compare to my last two (article 1 & article 2) article related to internet rates, currently unlimited internet is available with cheaper monthly fee.

Started of by Indosat with its Broom Prabayar Unlimited, price start from Rp. 100.000 (US$ 9) per month, you can enjoy unlimited internet. Even nothing much to be proud of beside the cheap price, but after launched several months, Indosat is overwhelming with increasing of subscriber, exceed their capasity. As demand increases, it's getting hard to the get the Broom's starter pack.

Then followed by XL with XL internet unlimited prabayar, at approximately same rates, XL plot the service with only 250K subscriber. Not really sure if the quota has been surpased, but same thing happen, no where we can get the starter pack. Telkomsel recently lauched their first unlimited prepaid internet. As they claim have suprerior QoS, monthly fee slightly higher than other competitor.

All these service above carying same one term : Fair Usage Policy. As now limiting access no longer acceptable for subcriber, Fair Usage policy seems to be best fit for current situation. Fair usage policy is limiting connection speed when a sucbriber reach certain quota. Most GSM internet provider lock the speed at 64kbps when quota reach 2-3GB. This is quite tricky because they mostly use term of Broadband 3.5G speed in their promotion, although the maximum speed only at 256kbps.

My personal choice for home internet is Firstmedia. Although some said the customer service isnt nice (in solving problem) but as long as you have no problem with your access, I almost can say its beyond expectation. With Rp. 135.000 (+tax) (US$ 12), speed we can get up to 384kpbs flat no fair usage policy. A real download could reach almost 50KBps from Rapidshare.
So far, I'm quite happy with this service. Hope this can help you decide what the personal internet connection that suits you.

SMS spam, regulate it or block it?

First of all, I need to declare, SMS Spam here is refer to those free promotional message, not those unethical premium SMS(es) services, that charge user per receive. Also, as long as the content does not violate ethical and law regulation, e.g terorrist, race issues, raise conflict, etc.

Flashing back in time,where sms just a new-comer service, sending an sms cost about one meal, people found it very effective way to communicate. As it getting popular, telco company along with some creative people start to making business based on this.

And anomaly, the more telco lower the sms cost the more telco got it revenue from. And now, it like almost email, we can send an sms at almost zero cost.

GSM network design to interconnected each other. Like mail server to deliver email, sms delivered by an alien called SMSC. So far, only telco have the SMSC. The best part for spammer is, due to the regulation, sender keep all the revenue, while by right, destination network has to deliver the message due to the regulation.

The world is too big to implement single anti spam policy. So some country start regulate kind of sms. Some even with government law that could bring spammer to court.

But is the regulation effective to combat spam, especially by those well-organized company? Company may change its name. As long as it has the benefit to its marketing, there will always people to send these message in any way. Some company might tear to ground, some can flee away, but sure they will find a way to survive...

So is it effective to set punishment ? I said NO!!
The most effetive way is just block message that telco 'thinks' a spam. Same as my opinion for site blocking. There could by several way of detection like blaclisted Smsc (learning the lesson from email's anti spam softwares). So then just let user to choose which are the best telco for them, especially some country has implemented MNP. Let user decide, whether they prefer protective telco, or they would rather loyal to "more liberal" telco.

Somehow we might found some promo are quite informative. For me, as long as it not costing us, why bother! Just delete the message. Case close and thank you!

Non-CP are taking role of a VAS, so what do "conventional CP" can do?

CP term is quite popular recent years as enabler to work with telco to provide value added services (VAS). As enabler, it provide channel to deliver content or services from other entity, such as news sources, music labels, games developers and marketing companies, as mobile-fit service. So we seen lots of service allied to certain artist, TV broadcaster, even daily product brand. It could be video on demand service, song downloads, games for mobile phone, phone enhancement or sms text news alert. But lately, the term "CP" quite allergic to some correspond to unethical service way.

As now, so many services are product and sells as their internal service. These provider affiliate with handset manufacturer so that ever since the first time we unwrap a new handset, we've forced to review so many services. They are trying to create a shortcut of CP's value chain. Broadcast companies are having their own shortcode, games companies also have their own connection to telco. So what does "conventional CP" can do as their role are no longer needed ?

To answer the economic challenges, there are several suggestion that a CP can evolve to :

1. Be a media company
As media industry expanded, cp could also become as media sources, that specialized for mobile user. Of course kind of hard to beat CNN that has correspondent all over the world, but world now evolve to personal reporting, where everyone could submit their own news. sure this is a very potential business in the future. And I'm glad to say that my company I work now is evolving to this direction too, although the idea is not quite the same. It's more to music-related broadcast channel.

2. Be an IT backend company
This idea is not new. There are used-to conventional companies now are strong player provide back end services for mobile banking, mobile airline service and even telco intern system like billing and RBT platform.

3. Affiliate with music industry
The third way is, become strategic partner with certain music labels. As now, copyright is the main issue where CP no longer can create and sell music product they used to sell, all product variant is binded with string of copyrights. Only product under Cc can be modified and sold freely.
To overcome this matter, either cp be the stratigic partner of music company or have own artists. there are advantages of having own artist, as cp will have unlimited idea to explore an artist could be, beside conventional artist has, like publishing songs, concert, promotion on radio/tv/online.


These are options for a "conventional" CP have, where a company could evolve as one type or all of them if they capable to.  Happy new year 2009 ! May coming year bring properity to us all.

Reference
1. CNBC Mobile
2. Universal Malaysia
3. Metamobile Jusradio

Are we ready for Mobile Number Portability ?

Mobile telecommunication business is one of the most active industry now in Indonesia. Competition is in the air, it's everywhere. Until last year, telco are still trying to lurk new user by voice call special offers only . Recently the tension even high for data & VAS. Telkomsel offers Rp.125K for unlimited data while provider charge as low as Rp 0.1/SMS.
But all these offer comes to nothing for existing customer, there no option to abandon a number just to chase all these temporary offers.

In some advance countries, there is Mobile Number Portability scheme, allow you to switch telco providers by preserve existing phone number (MSISDN). Are our infrastructure ready for this ?
Will people rush to a telco when it has best offer leaving other to zero? How VAS provider operations while can no longer detect telco from number's prefix ?

Of course, the implementation of MNP in Indonesia needs further market research how people react on this. Are we ready to take this for all the pro and cons ? One thing I'm sure, there will be no rush for people switching providers. Ok, maybe rush for first one or two months, but the market will found the balance, and the switching is just for people really have to.

Telco will trying to keep subscriber longer. Unlike now Rp.50K is just for 1 month validity, maybe the telco will extends it to 1 or 2 year to secure the subscriber not switching other provider. The competition can become more fair for all subscriber.

One thing is sure, it brings headache to people like me, to implement new flow to deliver VAS services.

RBT, where non-pirated music lives

Ever since telecommunication company found out the possibilities to put sound during waiting a call to be answered to replace the default "tut..tut..tut.." sound, now RBT (ringback-tone) has become a prime channel selling legal music that's the easiest way to control its copyright, and supposed no copyright violation here.

Invented by a Korean company in 2001, now most mobile telecommunication company has adopt this technology as part of VAS. The service so-called RBT has unique brand. Telkomsel, Indonesia largest mobile telecommunication company using the name "NSP 1212" (Nada Sambung Pribadi), then soon followed by i-Ring 808 by Indosat and Nada Tungguku 1818 by XL.

Even the service name may vary but the basic idea is almost the same. During calling to an RBT-subscriber, caller will hear a preset 30-seconds song (or sound) and will played until the call answered or reach maximum divert timeout. Currently, to increase revenue, the business model has become a 30-days auto-renewal subscription which proved very effective.

No wonder, now every new music product always include RBT subscribe code for its song list.
While almost every song can easily be found on internet, there almost nothing can be hack for RBT-song as user only has right purchace-to-hear, but not the song-ownership.

Addendum.
RBT now become the new kid on block for generating income for both telco and CP. As telco implement the auto renewal scheme and CP businesses attacked by unethical premium charging and widespread of free download sites, everybody turns to RBT. Maybe later on, the new kid on the block could become master of revenue. Who knows ?

Affordable Internet (for big city only)

After 6 months after my first post about affordable internet plan, no big and remarkable development for Indonesia internet plan for public. At least those hit the market and become headline on non-IT media. But the needs is clear. Public is now more and more aware the internet's purpose.

Actually we're not lack of idea to widening internet access. We have a lot. One of it is RT-RW Net which is originally proposed by local IT expert, Onno W Purbo. You can read his idea or simply visit his minimalist personal site. But all these come to a need for affordable internet backbones. Major ISP now still stick to a not-so-affordable price for home user. Not to mention the limited service area.

First media (previously Cablevision) is the first ISP provide affordable internet plan yet bigger coverage area. Priced at Rp. 99.000, Firstmedia provide unlimited internet bandwidth at 384Kbps through its digital TV cable network. But it cover big city, mostly in Jakarta only.

For small cities, expecting local goverment can be the leader to provide local loop and let local user to build RT-RW net.

Let see what connection we can get next 6 months.

Site blocking, is it effective ?

Not all information available on internet is suitable for everyone, especially for Indonesia where internet access is very exciting new technology. So new that not every internet user here aware of some inappropriate content and adults content that is should be filtered out from their access.

Government is now applying new rule to block some sites that responsible for distributing inappropriate content. A lot of innocent people and business related to those sites are now suffering from lost of access and financial loss.


As this is very democratic country, this action now facing a lot of contra. Some hacker even hack government official site to express their objection. But for me, as it least affected to my personal business and for the sake of more people, I think it's good to block some inappropriate content. But the blocking shouldn't centralized in nation-wide internet gateway. This should only apply to a smaller region or area, such as, home internet gateway for avoid children accessing adult content.

Blocking site is just like cat and mouse games. When a site is blocked, there were thousands of similar sites founded. Government could never block them all. Maybe government cant stop IT geek or hacker to access such sites, but for most user dont really know the trick. But, the objective to limit access to top "blacklisted" sites is achieved. To these normal internet user, supposed 90% of internet user, yes it is effective. And for this point, I think government has done the right action.

Where internet supposed limitless now has limitation.
Welcome to new era of internet...

Jakarta-centric Economy

It's been more than ten years after the Asia monetary crisis passed. Some countries that suffering from the crisis has been rise even more strength than before. But for country like Indonesia, it's like a never ending crisis.

After ten years, it's not toward to a better direction. Even more, it's worsen. Of course there's several public sector has been recovered. Economist like to use modern-based economy indicator to calculate the recovery, like stock index and infrastructure development in Jakarta. But Indonesia is not just Jakarta. There are more than 90% still depend on agriculture and other primary sector to support their income.

Where the space is supposed for 2-3 million inhabitant, Jakarta now home to almost 10 million people not to mention those commuter that work in the city and live in urban area nearby.
The economic activity is so intensive that almost everything people done here, is because of money. Money is the only incentive.

That phenomenon caused Jakarta become the center of everything. From the wealthiest businessmen, until poorest urban family. From businesses head quarter, government main offices, until mafia bosses. And for people like me, the middle class worker, just looking some opportunity in between.

With some skill, and a little bit luck, people can easily find jobs. But one job sometime can simply cant afford live in Jakarta. But to be successful, people here should has a good relation, and lot of luck, not just skill. Because those only work by the technical skill can only survive but only those has extraordinary bullshit skill can survive and get profit more than it's effort.

VAS need operator's incentive

Indonesia content market has grew from a second row become first class revenue channel for operator and VAS (value added service) companies. But, as the market become more modern, now VAS companies demanding a new idea to come up with the market grows stagnant.

There is a lot of idea to bring this business back to life again, actually. Backed by 3G technology as transport, and advanced mobile phone platform from Java, Symbian and Windows Mobile, there are likely we have the development scope like desktop programming do.

Some of it are online gaming, full track songs, video on demand, and mobile tv. But all come to a common problem. Most people here is not wealth enough to spend more money for "not-really-important" pulsa. Pulsa refer to prepaid credit, as most mobile phone user here uses prepaid service than post paid. And average ARPU is between Rp. 70.000 - 100.000 (about US$ 8 - US$ 11), most of it are used for SMS and voice call.

But the situation will change if operator willing to become more "flexible" on data charge (GPRS fee). Flexible, is just another way to say "make it free" As this is VAS, user is get charged by the service itself (could be subscription or on demand) and if come with other charges, I personally will think twice to have that service.

Even the technology is so advance that can stream video, but phone with TV tuner feature is very attractive, even we can't really say the quality is satisfying. That's why people here are more like "Nonton TV tanpa pulsa !" jargon than expensive messy mobile tv. So 3G phones just like other low end phones, used for make call, send SMS, and listen to "pirated" music. Do you agree with me ?

Note. VAS company also known as CP (content provider) company.

Why Indonesia local TLD isn't so popular ?

Indonesia as part of global networking has its own top level domain (TLD).
1. co.id, is for company and business institution.
2. or.id, for non-profit organization
3. ac.id, for school and educational institution
4. go.id, for government and its related offices.
5. net.id, for internet related institution
6. web.id, for personal sites

Among these TLDs, there's common problem which can only be registered by person or company who has Indonesia Tax Number (NPWP) and strong reason why need to register the name. Simply no room for these personal domain and occasional domain registration. Have you think of to register i-love-blogging.co.id instead of i-love-blogging.com ? Even some government promotion are registered to dotCom domain!

Beside that, manual processed registration procedure makes only a professional can understand the form and fill it correctly. But some of these complicated procedure are taken care by hosting company. But everytime you need to make changes to these data, always have to ask your hosting company to do it. Although, some hosting company has their own control panel for client to manage. But what if we want to relocate the hosting ? Ooppss.

That's why when we need a domain to hook our promotion or project, Indonesia local TLD would never come as first choice. So, I'm calling Indonesia internet authorities, let build a strong management to handle this domain registration business. And I believe, this is a really potential business the worth to manage professionally and will produce a significant incomes.

What do you think ?

(Expecting) Affordable Internet Plans

Nowadays, more and more activity and transaction we can do via internet rather than just via conventional way. Indonesia with increasing of Internet usage penetration up to 8.9% (according to Internet World Stat) needs a strong infrastructure to support the growth. Yes, the key is INFRASTRUCTURE to connect user and ISP. Indonesia is not lack of ISP and internet connection choices, especially big cities such as Jakarta, Surabaya, Bandung and other major cities. But that's all can't meet demand, supply and buying power of most population.

A most common connection is using dial-up modem with maximum speed of 64Kbps. This connection type is most widely available as it use PSTN network as its medium, and most ISP has dial-up service, prepaid and post paid. But priced at Rp. 165/min (US$ 1 = Rp. 9400) Telkomnet, the mostly used dial up service, we cant really it's satisfy.

Recently Telkom, the biggest telecommunication provider in Indonesia, has just upgraded some of its network to digital line on some major cities which is available for ADSL-level connection. With ADSL connection the maximum speed can be reach is 512Kbps (downlink) and 64Kbps (uplink). This speed is quite reasonable compare to its price. But as Telkom more focus on its CDMA Telkom Flexi, fixed line expansion growth is almost zero. So area that is not covered yet, we have no idea if Telkom plan to cover it or leave it to be covered by wireless.

Thankfully, there's more and more public available WiFi. And also some area has local available internet backbone. But as it serve a limited area only, we can not rely and hope them to cover some not-so-promising area such as rural and urban area.

Last choice, the most public available connection, is by wireless company provider (GSM and CDMA). But for its price at average Rp. 12/Kb and Rp. 3-5/Kb for GSM and CDMA respectively, can you imagine if this connection is use for daily activity that may consume up to 1GB data per day ? There is plan for 250MB - 4GB per month, with variance price from one provider to another. As it has limitation, I always feel uncomfortable to use it. There's unlimited plan price at Rp. 350.000/month with external ISP, but they limit the speed at max. 64Kbps even newest 3G modem is used. Forget the HSDPA and 3G claims for data speed rate !

My last word is, if you're a wireless internet provider (GSM and CDMA), please consider to launch an affordable internet plan. I think the price should be no more than Rp. 100.000-150.000/month. Be different ! I believe this will bring a very promising revenue for your company.

Indonesia Cellular Tariff

Indonesia is very strategic country for any purpose, huge market place for other country to market their products, and unlimited of natural resources potential from mining, plantation, and fishery. as it grow, there's more and more people need telecommunication, wired and wireless.

Since first time introduced in Indonesia, cellular network has become vital sector that related to most people daily activity. First established cellular network company is Satelindo (now had merged to Indosat). Later, until now there are Telkomsel, Indosat, XL, Hutchison established their service in Indonesia respectively with GSM platform.

While most of existing GSM user complaining the heaven-like GSM tariff, government policy approve another platform license to operate in Indonesia, CDMA, specialized for local (regional) connection only and at low-end tariff. But this policy does not work, as now GSM and CDMA as some CDMA company also operating nation-wide and with GSM-style dial number, where CDMA supposed to use only local-style number, like 021-XXX for Jakarta and 031-XXX for Surabaya. So, these companies are now head-to-head competing for larger market share. But actually some of it are same company that owned major GSM network, such as Telkom Flexi (own by Telkom, also has share on Telkomsel), StarOne (owned by Indosat), Mobile 8, Esia (Bakrie Telecom) and new comer SMART Telecom & Sampoerna Telecom Indonesia.

As the competition war is on, but binded to government regulation on Interconnection tariff (Dirjen Postel, DepkomInfo), all the provider can only "play" on intra-network calls. There are some offered Rp. 10/second, Rp. 1/second, and Rp. 1/minute for voice calls. Some provider offer even 0 (yes Zero cost) for these kind of calls/sms during off peak hours. In this situation of course the larger network subscriber share gain more advantages. Means when provider T with 60% market share has promted Rp. 10/seconds, mean it's subscriber will be able to call to 60% of cellular user with that cost. Compare to these even set Rp. 1/minute, but only have 1% market share. What I'm trying to say is, somehow this kind of promotion is just not appropriate neither effective.

As cellular user need grows, the demand for data calls is rising. But none provider has offered a significant tariff reduction for data. Without these incentive, the main objective to launch 3G (and HSDPA) will need more time to penetrate. We're not talking about speed, neither corporate user where cost is not in consideration list. We are talking about majority user, middle-class user (like me), and I believe this is the biggest portion of user segment.

For me, with current need and price scheme, GPRS is more than enough. And what ever the promotion, I'll still loyal to my number, current provider, "S" from company "T" since the first time I use cellular phone, eight years ago.

Glossary
GSM : Global System for Mobile Communications
CDMA : Code Division Multiple Access
GPRS : General Packet Radio Services
HSDPA : High-Speed Downlink Packet Access

Indie music

Global music industry is now evolving to a new format. Before internet and portable music player is become as famous as now, we all listen to music from just a few sources.

Some old time player uses tape cassettes, some newer player come with disc player such as audio CD and laser disc. There's no way how people can make copy of these disc unless they have a very advanced sound system with double cassette deck player. huh !

Nowadays, copying music is no longer a very sacret word. Even street dealer now have mobile phone capable for playing music, most low-end laptop has DVD burner included, and when you have a USB capable device, you'll easily found a device to plug it in. It's no longer illegal, at least not in front of law. They call it share.

As you know, music sales is shrinking year to year. Business Week has the story. Less and less people buy music (at least with traditional way, buy CD or Cassete), they more like download and share among friends. There's not hard to find a song shared across internet. I wont mention any, because then Blogger might shut down this blog.

The most affected party in this situation is music label company such as Sony/BMG, EMI, Universal and Warner (known as BIG FOUR). But on other side, there's still large number of creative people working outside of the industry cage. Some people call them Indie Music. First time I thought it was a word related with Indonesie Music (fyi, I'm from Indonesia). Later I find out that's independent music. See related article on Wikipedia for more detail about indie music.

But due to circumstances the indie music is have less publishing & marketing power than big label company's music. But, I think in the future, the condition will change. There will me more more people publishing their own music without backed by a label.