Apple Takes Steps Towards Being DRM-Free

Apple has released a statement saying that in May all of their content from EMI will be offered in a 256kbps (higher quality), DRM-free (can be played on ANY mp3 player and as many computers as you want) form that costs only $1.29 per song (if you already own the song you can upgrade for 30 cents). These songs will also still be available for download in the original 128kbps, drm-hampered, 99 cent version for those who are too cheap to spot the 30 cents for the gigantic upgrade. This deal has a large impact considering the EMI library contains over five million songs at this time. Jobs claims that by the end of the year almost half of iTunes' content should have a DRM-free option available. This decision is HUGE, as this step towards accessible online music could be the action that sets into motion Apple's complete domination of the music world. If they are able to convince other labels to sell DRM-free music, we could see the transition into a world of easily accessible, easy to listen to music that is both simple AND legal. Good job Apple! Right when things are bad and you're starting to look like any other mega corporation, you go and do something that could possibly be one of the largest steps towards a new music industry reality since iTunes itself. You can read the official release here.

Blanket Licenses as Music's Future

At a SXSW '07 panel Peter Jennings, the manager of The Clash, Pink Floyd, and others as well as Cambridge educated economist stated that the future of music should be a blanket license. If each music listener pays an annual fee of $50, the music industry as a whole would make more money than it currently does while ending the frustrations caused by old world vs new world complications with DRM, licensing, and pricing. Unfortunately, current models and conceptions within the RIAA will probably keep this from being a possibility in the near future. In my opinion the best method for this to happen would be at the hands of pirates. If they can make an illegal but easy option then major labels would have no choice but attempt to capitalize on its success and evetually we may eventually hit this utopian music ideal where everyone gets paid and music is easily heard by everybody. Only time will tell...

NEWS: The RIAA is Dumb

Yes, it's true, the RIAA isn't the smartest group of people out there. In response to Steve Job's essay about record labels dropping their DRM types they issued this statement:

"Apple’s offer to license Fairplay to other technology companies is a welcome breakthrough and would be a real victory for fans, artists and labels. There have been many services seeking a license to the Apple DRM. This would enable the interoperability that we have been urging for a very long time."

The best part about this statement is that Jobs mentions absolutely nothing in his essay about opening up Fairplay. He merely wanted the music industry to be a little bit more mac friendly, Fairplay and all. Maybe we should all do as Bill Gates says and "just buy a cd and rip it."

NEWS: Steve Jobs condemns DRM use by record labels

In one of the more hilarious stories of late, Apple's Steve Jobs openly condemned major record labels' use of DRM protection on certain CD releases. According to him there is no reason for them to "protect" 10% of their albums at the risk of stifling usability by the users. This is extremely funny considering Jobs' company is notorious for their FairPlay DRM which keeps all iTunes songs exclusive to Apple brand products. It is so notorious that Norways consumer board has taken up talks with Apple threating legal action if they refuse to allow their media to be used on other mp3 players beyond the iPod series. This seems fairly typical of Apple's hypocritical approach towards digital media.

In another release Apple recommended that users avoid upgrading to Microsoft's new operating system Vista. This seems like an obvious statement but their reason for users to delay this upgrade is because iTunes has several critical conflicts with Vista keeping it from functioning properly. All of this after Apple made quite a few jokes at Microsoft's expense due to the time it took Microsoft to finish developing their OS. With five years since XP's release it seems that Apple had more than enough time to get their software functioning on the new operating system.