Seth Godin opines (I think) that book covers are stupid, unnecessary and a waste of money. [Link]

But I don't know of anyone who has ever complained that their favorite book has a cover — except when it is poorly designed and/or manufactured.

Clearly, many customers are willing to buy songs without artwork. But does that mean they wouldn't want the artwork if it were included in the sale?

But the issue, to me, is opportunity. Opportunity to communicate with the customer in more than one media, about a product they either like or are considering to purchase. That's a good thing in my view.

One thing we are beginning to tinker with at Generator is including CD booklets for other artists when we ship a customer's order. It costs our client a few pennies, no additional postage, and the customer gets to have the booklet if they decide to purchase the digital music — which, as luck would have it, we are selling at the artist's web store.

I guess what is frustrating to me is this growing sense that many believe marketing — and profit-making — is somehow bad. As if the world would be better without it. As if those who practice these tasks are almost unethical and immoral. It's nonsense!

But more importantly, it is not going away, nor should it. This idea that somehow the web is going to eliminate print — and by extension eliminate marketing — is frivolity.

I have been quoted as saying, The future will look a lot like the past. I predict when everything washes out, companies will discover how to create web-delivered content with great value and a fair (and dare I say profitable) price. Customers will gladly pay that price to get what they want.

And yes, packaging will play a fundamental role in that process. Maybe even packaging that (gasp) is printed on paper!