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Apple Negotiating More DRM-Free Music for iTunes
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MB per MB, any iPod is probably the most expensive backup device one could imagine. If you really need another 30 GB of storage for backups, I can send you an unused 60 GB drive that is sitting in a drawer of mine. But anyway there is plenty of software that can get you any files out of any iPod.
I always tell people that I have at least for copies of all my data but it never occurred to me that I have a fifth copy of my music on my iPod.
Tell me about it. You can find good 250GB external hard drives for under $100, instead of the 120GB iPod at $250. Whenever Blu-ray Discs hit the Mac, those would be awesome to use for an entire library backup with a single layer disc holding 25GB.
How exactly can Apple be more competitive when the labels (other than EMI) simply won't allow them to sell their music without DRM like they do Amazon? The playing field obviously isn't level, so that's definitely not Apple's fault.
I think it really comes down to the record companies making sure they still have influence. It's really not in their interest to let Apple control the majority of their sales. I think their hope is that Amazon will become a household name (which I don't see happening, at least not for online music sales) and then they will gain from the two services competing and neither willing to just toss off a record company the way Apple did to NBC shows before when they didn't agree with pricing issues.
I work in the music industry, though no longer for one of the majors. I since have my own label and sell to iTunes DRM free, along with every other outlet.
BUT the legitimate fear of the majors is a pretty simple one. Right now iTunes pays better than any other online outlet, and is the most popular. Its great. No complaints.
However, we've seen this before. When Best Buy and Wal-Mart became major players in the scene it was wonderful. They were moving tons of product, doing creative promotions, and paying better than anyone else.
Now there is nothing but Best Buy and Wal-Mart. The indie record chains have all been destroyed, and Best Buy and Wal-Mart rake us over the coals, demand better and better deals, force us to pay them money just for shelf space, demand exclusive product, etc. Its a nightmare.
Nobody wants to see that happen on the digital side, so the industry has taken an interest in building up the competition to a point. Right now we let them all keep more of the money, cut them special deals, etc. to help them gain market share. Its not that anybody wants to see iTunes fall, they just don't want to see them get greedy and powerful. I think ideally they want iTunes at around 40 percent of the digital market, amazon around the same, and then all the other companies scrambling over the last 20 percent.
BUT the legitimate fear of the majors is a pretty simple one. Right now iTunes pays better than any other online outlet, and is the most popular. Its great. No complaints.
However, we've seen this before. When Best Buy and Wal-Mart became major players in the scene it was wonderful. They were moving tons of product, doing creative promotions, and paying better than anyone else.
Now there is nothing but Best Buy and Wal-Mart. The indie record chains have all been destroyed, and Best Buy and Wal-Mart rake us over the coals, demand better and better deals, force us to pay them money just for shelf space, demand exclusive product, etc. Its a nightmare.
Nobody wants to see that happen on the digital side, so the industry has taken an interest in building up the competition to a point. Right now we let them all keep more of the money, cut them special deals, etc. to help them gain market share. Its not that anybody wants to see iTunes fall, they just don't want to see them get greedy and powerful. I think ideally they want iTunes at around 40 percent of the digital market, amazon around the same, and then all the other companies scrambling over the last 20 percent.
i understand not wanting apple to have the be all end all monopoly on music, but how does that stop you from still giving DRM free music to ALL download places?? you mean to tell me you cant let both amazon and apple have it??
no this is clearly bc they hate APPLE's power to make them force to work with apple. as someone said, if you have a product you want to make money on, you get it to everybodies hands.. unless you are biased..
no this is clearly bc they hate APPLE's power to make them force to work with apple. as someone said, if you have a product you want to make money on, you get it to everybodies hands.. unless you are biased..
The record labels will be wise to get on board with iTunes+Plus since I will happily upgrade my significant music collection and give them another 30 cents a song.
The support Amazon with no DRM just isn't going to work outside a small niche of the market. The bottom line is most people don't understand bit rates, DRM, etc. They know their iPod and iTunes, and they know with one click they can have more music. Accordingly, instead of hurting Apple, all they are doing is leaving money on the table. A lot of money.
If they don't want my money, fine. With this great economy, I understand they must have tons of options to make money. But if there are smart, they will take people's money while they can.
The support Amazon with no DRM just isn't going to work outside a small niche of the market. The bottom line is most people don't understand bit rates, DRM, etc. They know their iPod and iTunes, and they know with one click they can have more music. Accordingly, instead of hurting Apple, all they are doing is leaving money on the table. A lot of money.
If they don't want my money, fine. With this great economy, I understand they must have tons of options to make money. But if there are smart, they will take people's money while they can.
I gave up buying music from iTunes as soon as I discovered www.7digital.com. Nearly every major labels music catalogue, DRM free, and the ability to download it again for free should you somehow manage to lose your copy with no backup, for instance.
They also have good promotions. I bought Kings of Leon's new album on a pre-order for £5 when on iTunes it was £7.99 and I've just pre-ordered Guns n Roses for £5 too.
bye bye iTunes.
They also have good promotions. I bought Kings of Leon's new album on a pre-order for £5 when on iTunes it was £7.99 and I've just pre-ordered Guns n Roses for £5 too.
bye bye iTunes.
I'll agree with you about the Wal-Mart thing. I think a lot of their turn to evil happened when Sam Walton died and his kids took over, which often spoils other businesses as well. I can also see where you're going with Best Buy since Circuit City is pulling up anchor all around here. Luckily, we have numerous other stores to fill that gap -- hh gregg, Fry's Electronics, Brandsmart USA among others. hh gregg just started building stores here about 5 years ago, so I'm hoping that Circuit City's failing is maybe part of HHG's success. I wanted to laugh every time I saw the Blu-ray Disc prices at Circuit City. Half the stuff was $35.
I get the theory about the major labels, but right now they're looking like the bad guys. They are still the bad guys from trying to stifle downloadable music a decade ago, so I would call it a VERY BAD MOVE on their part. Their movie studio counterparts aren't doing any favors as well with the ridiculous prices for movies on iTunes. No special features, no hard copy, more compressed version, but you're gonna charge me about the same for it. It takes a really good ear to tell the difference between a CD and stuff you buy on iTunes. It's much easier to tell the video and sound quality between a DVD movie and a digital iTunes movie. Not having a way to play said movie with a DVD player is killing that expansion since the smart ones out here will buy DVDs and then go to town with HandBrake.
The good news for you is that indies are on the way back up with digital distribution methods. While I hate MySpace with a passion now, it has allowed independent artists to reach people like crazy. Same thing with iTunes. But if people want to keep iTunes and Apple from dominating, they should make digital media players and digital media stores that don't suck. Amazon has a decent store, but NOBODY makes a DMP that compares to the iPod. Who here would rather have a Zune with a video screen than an iPod Shuffle? (Nada)
The way i see this is that the further legal digital distribution is deregulated, the larger of the illegal market share they will convert. It has to be accepted that illegal distribution will never be stopped but who can argue with 99c a song? DRM free is just another step to convince people that it is legal. I have a lot of friends who are in to bands that you simply can't find in local cd stores, but are on itunes store. Because of the limitations of DRM the general attitude is "screw this, fire up bittorrent"
Work for streaming music instead
A subscription service for itunes store (musik and TV/movie) would be way more useful than DRM free media.
With a subscrition sevice I would eaven welcome DRM for the few ocation where I dont have brodband conection and you have to transfer/play media on an offline device.
A subscription service for itunes store (musik and TV/movie) would be way more useful than DRM free media.
With a subscrition sevice I would eaven welcome DRM for the few ocation where I dont have brodband conection and you have to transfer/play media on an offline device.
Since when is it a secret that you can make free ringtones in Garage Band??? You can also make them for free in iTunes if you just convert the files tricky style.
Anyway, I am all for DRM being rid of forever off the face of the earth!
You can also just bluetooth the whole song off your comp onto your phone and hey presto you have a ringtone
Technically that could be true but not if you burn your songs on audio CDs before that day...
Uh... I think Apple realized this a long time ago.
Hence Apple negotiating for more DRM-free music for iTunes... ?
Back-Stabbing Record Companies
The back-stabbing record companies need to stop toying with Apple and put their entire libraries online DRM-free. If it wasn't for Apple, millions of people would still be downloading songs illegally. Apple was the first company to actually do online music right and the record companies ought to be thankful instead of being back-stabbing turds.
The back-stabbing record companies need to stop toying with Apple and put their entire libraries online DRM-free. If it wasn't for Apple, millions of people would still be downloading songs illegally. Apple was the first company to actually do online music right and the record companies ought to be thankful instead of being back-stabbing turds.
It's not the DRM that gets me, it's the DRM and the low bitrate for iTMS songs. I've long since stopped buying digital music. Now I just pay a bit more for a CD, rip it at whatever bitrate I want, and have it for use in the car. And I buy most of my CDs at a local shop where I have the satisfaction of keeping my money in the community and supporting a music lover (and his dog who roams the shop).
It's okay, your new to the ongoing struggle Apple has had with the music companies to provide DRM free music.
The story did say that the music companies didn't provide Apple with the rights to DRM free music because the music companies were trying to decrease Apple's market share.
In other words.... Apple gets it! One of the few things they do get, but they get it.
No, the main thing apple gets is their desire to continue their Hegemony over the portable media market and digital music sales.
honestly, to strip DRM, it probably isn't in artists or labels interests to do such because it is only going to lead to more and more piracy. yes, what happens when you buy a song on itunes and you love it, no DRM, why not just email it to your friend? alot of people are gonna do that and it will really hurt artists.
sorry, but this issue is not as clear cut as you think it is. instead you honestly believe that in your tone that Music Companies are wrong, hell many even think evil. But this is just a part of a long campaign to destabilize the value of music.
why not... artists don't deserve to get paid for their music. go ahead and steal it!
this type of thinking that copyrights and artists shouldn't be valued is bonkers, also there are alot of great people working with artists at labels and more who really work hard and do deserve to earn an income. Getting on tour, music videos, publicity and alot more takes time, people and money.