Apple Negotiating More DRM-Free Music for iTunes

[aristobrat]

No, the main thing apple gets is their desire to continue their Hegemony over the portable media market and digital music sales.

Most people try to make the point that Apple is *for* DRM because its customers have lots of money invested in songs that only play on Apple devices (so they could never afford to switch to a competing device and repurchase their music). So you're making the point that Apple's *against* DRM so that they can continue their hegemony? Seems like Apple gets to keep it however this comes out.

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.

There are a lot of people who pirate precisely because of the fact that you can't buy DRM-free music (and they don't want to get caught in the DRM-trap as mentioned above (with player lock-in), or have to worry about their DRM'ed purchase not playing anymore, like when MSN Music and Yahoo Music shutdown).

this type of thinking that copyrights and artists shouldn't be valued is bonkers

IMO, what's bonkers is your thought that only thru DRM music will copyrights and artists be valued.

 

[shadownddust]

What makes this such a sticky issue is that without DRM, sharing would progress even further, keeping the artist from making even a fraction of what they are making right now. The few DRM songs that I have I don't share, because I can't, and I'm not authorizing everyone I know (not that I could). In this instance, it's doing what it is supposed to be doing. The problem is that DRM eventually just makes it difficult for people who spend the money, buy the song, and then want to use it however they see fit, within their legal rights, but can't. That goes for nearly any copy protection implementation.

It sucks both ways, and either solution is cause for concern for both parties. Leave DRM, people are pissed, sharing still occurs. Get rid of DRM, people are happy, sharing still occurs, and artists now have to get a second (or third) job.

Of course DRM-free music is available at any brick and mortar store (read CD's).

 

[killmoms]

It sucks both ways, and either solution is cause for concern for both parties. Leave DRM, people are pissed, sharing still occurs. Get rid of DRM, people are happy, sharing still occurs, and artists now have to get a second (or third) job.

Of course DRM-free music is available at any brick and mortar store (read CD's).

I think you're overestimating the damage that DRM-free downloads will do. Amazon has had DRM-free MP3s from every major label for ages now, and artists aren't having to get a second or third job.

All DRM does is punish those who want to use the music legitimately. Those who have the know-how will strip (or avoid) it either way. By eliminating DRM you remove headaches from the purchase/use of digital music, thereby opening up the market to people who were before frustrated by incompatibility or weirdnesses. You might have a slight uptick in sharing, but I doubt it will be to the level you describe, if only because it will be offset by the surge in sales due to the increased ease-of-use that comes with DRM-free music.

 

[notjustjay]

Of course DRM-free music is available at any brick and mortar store (read CD's).

And this is still how I buy the vast majority of my music, then I rip it myself. For a small premium I get a physical piece of media as well as liner art. It's DRM-free and it's already backed up for safekeeping.

I suspect that even if iTunes switches to all-DRM free music, buying CD's will still be a very popular option for precisely those reasons.

 

[aristobrat]

I suspect that even if iTunes switches to all-DRM free music, buying CD's will still be a very popular option for precisely those reasons.

For some. Personally, I'm old enough where I can't hear the difference between what I download from Amazon.com (256kbps) and stuff I rip myself, and I hate having to physically store the stuff. Digital to me is a godsend.

 

[rhett7660]

I hope this happens.... end drm........ I still have a huge cd collection. Don't mind storing them as long as I have a garage with the space but I agree with others. Digitial is very nice!

 

[chequepoint]

For me, and my label, we've essentially abandoned the CD for 2009. Its vinyl or digital. If you want to sit at home and experience fidelity, vinyl is the solution. If you want audio in your car or computer, go digital. Burn your own CD if you need it. We package the downloads with the Vinyl. Problem solved. It actually fascinates me that people will spend a ton of money on a blue ray player for added fidelity, but when you suggest they do the same with a record player they look at you like you're crazy. Trust me, try it. Modern Vinyl = High Def.

 

[wbeasley]

Yeah bandwidth costs money but...

Do you understand why there's an upgrade charge? They have to pay for the bandwidth to serve all the people who want to upgrade. So, I'd say $0.30 is a pretty cheap price. And $50 means that you'd be upgrading almost 200 songs.

Now, I'm not saying it couldn't be cheaper. I just think that it's pretty silly to get upset for a few cents.

$0.30 for a few MEGABYTES is over the top. When you can buy a few GIG a month for $20, the requirements for redownloading arent that high.

Perhaps it's because we are paying for a whole new licence to the music industry. Don't the copyright owners get 8 or 9 cents a song? So maybe that's part of the reload fee... just a thought.

Also, totally agree with other poster about freeing up copying. On other MP3 players I can move anything I damn well like, either onto or off of. If it's not DRMed, we should be able to move anything we like around. The more iPods I collect over time, the harder it gets to stay within the 5 licences arrangement. I'm sure there are people with more than me who would find this restriction even more annoying.

 

[JQW]

The iTunes store is now offering me upgrades to iTunes Plus of several albums I've bought from Universal's labels. The same albums are still listed in the store as being available in the older format only.

This is from the UK version of the iTunes store, by the way.