We must hope for another deal.

The music industry should not leave it to the judges to decide on online royalties

Sense has prevailed in the online royalty dispute between the labels and the publishers. And we will all say "hurrah!" to that.

It has taken too long, cost too much and wasted energy, but that's for yesterday. Today we should celebrate.

As an agreement, the deal is crucial in providing a solid, reliable platform on which to build digital business going forward. Of course, there are still details to be ironed out.

Next month, services offering alternative business models - not rooted in the "pay 79p, you get a track" idea - will attempt to resolve their issues.

Some of us will regret the BPI's decision to draw the digital music services into the debate. It may well be true that circumstances then made it logical for the BPI to look for their support, but it leaves us still on the verge of a tribunal battle, despite the settlement. And that is a shame.

A tribunal will be a point of resolution, it is true; Judge Fysh will force a decision and close the issue once and for all. Whether it is to the satisfaction of the music business is irrelevant: a decision will be reached. And imposed. That is, in itself, ...