As the 2000's come to a close, it doesn't take reams of market analysis to realize that the last 10 years saw the dismantling the music industry as we knew it. However, a recent series of products may be an indicator of what's to come in the near future. Of course, music-making games like Guitar Hero, Rock Band and various iPhone applications are making a significant impact, but if devices like Yamaha's Tenori-On enter the mainstream in the next 10 years, it could cement the next decade as when the non-musical made themselves heard.
The original Tenori-On was released in the spring of 2007 to a limited audience. The 16x16 LED buttons correspond to musical scales that, when pressed in any order, create a catchy tune with visual accompaniment. The originally prohibitive price tag (well over ¥100,000) meant that this toy/tool would be used solely by the rich or technophillic. However, two recently-released versions have made the device much more affordable.