In the interests of even more pedantry and accuracy can I point out that Canute (usually spelled "Knut" these days in solidarity with our Dansk brethren :-) was mostly a king in *Southern* England, living at Bosham near Chichester? Though at one point he ruled over all England, Denmark, and some of the bits in between as well. "Trei, Peter" wrote:

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Robin Whittle[SMTP:rw@firstpr.com.au] wrote: . [lots of good stuff about the music business clipped]

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I think this is an accurate analysis of a really sad situation. Like King Canute, the record companies are devoting most of their thinking and resources to holding back the tide.

[even more good stuff clipped]

In the interests of pedantry and accuracy, may I point out that Canute did not actually expect to hold back the tide. Canute was an an early Danish king of northern England, living ~995-1035. Like most modern leaders, he was surrounded by yes-men. Unlike them, he did something about it: