Less than a week after it came out Sony BMG was planning to sell music not loaded down with copyright, they’re officially selling DRM-free MP3s through Amazon’s MP3 store later this month, making it the first to carry DRM-free music from all four major labels.
It had to happen sooner or later.
The idea of squirting music is one of those ideas that seem obvious enough once you think about it and to tell you the truth, it sounds really cool. But…without having looked at the patent yet (I will and will post details here later…) it seems obvious that there has to be a DRM mechanism involved.
Microsoft, in case you missed it, DRM just isn’t working out all that well…maybe someone will get the hint and open source DRM.
EMI’s senior VP Lauren Berkowitz reports that sales of the label’s digital music sales have seen a spike in sales after going DRM-free through iTunes a few weeks ago. If EMI can maintain that increase in sales, the other major labels may follow sooner than later.
If given a choice between privacy and security or convenience, we’ll choose convenience every time. The problem is that on the Internet most people don’t get to choose. Most privacy losses that result from technology are the result of ignorance. That used computer you just purchased that has the previous owners Quicken data intact on the hard-drive; the countless unsecured wireless networks; the accidental responses made by family and friends to a phishing site that is lucky enough to target the same bank used by the unlucky victim. The privacy concerns over iTunes putting your personal information in the music you buy are not worth losing sleep over.
Most people willingly give away more information to sweepstakes, magazine subscriptions, contests, market surveys, free website subscriptions all of whom immediately turn around and sell your mailing list information. And they usually do it for something less tangible than a song for which they are willing to pay a whole dollar.
The information embedded in the music is their to protect the artists and the content publishers. Right or wrong, music is a business and they believe they have to take steps to protect their revenue. These steps are not always well considered but the intent is clear. In return, with the removal of DRM, we get the music with none of the restrictions. I can now use my iTunes music on any player or any computer with no restrictions. I no longer have to worry about losing my licenses and thereby access to my music. Is it worth it? Sure it is…its convenient!
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