Music and internet worlds merged on Friday on San Francisco's posh Nob Hill as insiders brainstormed about industry rocking Web 2.0 trends from social networking to smart phones with cameras.

Internet technologies will transform a music industry in which recording studio revenues have tumbled along with CD sales, according to those gathered for an elite Bandwidth Conference.

"The technology is really there to empower the consumer and the artist," said Gracenote vice president of product and content management Stephen White.

"It is about creating better experiences around music, and we think the same is true for movies, TV, and other entertainment content."

Gracenote specialises in music recognition technology and is used in Apple's iTunes online shop. Sony bought the California company last year for a reported $260-million.

CarStars, unveiled by Gracenote this year, lets drivers pick beloved musicians to be "musical guides" that orchestrate playlists based on what they think best fits a moment, whether it be touring a coast or commuting.

"We see in the future a much better experience; holistic offerings," White said.

Fans will be able to interact with artists in more rewarding ways, White predicted.

Creative Allies plans to soon launch a test version of software that lets artists hire fans to create anything from concert posters and t-shirt designs to music videos and biographies, according to the startup.

The amount of money raked in from live concerts has rocketed, triggering an array of commission-based online services for hunting down tickets, according to JamBase chief executive David Rosenheim.

The JamBase mission is to be the ultimate online resource for live music fans.

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