Boing Boing posted a story about Wal-Mart ending its use of DRM wrappers on its MP3 download service and how, for its customers, there is now the inconvenience of backing up those MP3s by burning them to disc. If the files are not saved that way they will no longer be available via the Wal-Mart DRM servers – the customers will lose access to their purchased music in other words.
That’s not the big story though. More interesting to me is what will Apple do now that the world’s largest retailer and the world’s largest online retailer, Amazon.com, are selling MP3 files to their customers without DRM? I can’t believe that Steve Jobs will stick to keeping DRM on iTunes files even though the DRM means that files purchased on iTunes are then not transferable and can only be played on iPods not other MP3 players. The money is in the hardware not the content.
And then there’s the Android G1 phone that has the Amazon DRM-free MP3 store built in. The clock is ticking.
And the moral to this story, as one comment left on Boing Boing says -”You know you have a horrible business plan when the only rational thing for your customers to do is break the law.”
@Dave–my two cents: Apple will continue to use DRM as long as major labels are in bed with the technology in enough numbers to make it viable. The moment the dominoes start falling for DRM support from the dinosaurs, Apple will jump ship too.
AND they’ll do it with a press release saying “Hey, we like music to be viral, too! YAY! Let’s all be happy and DRM-free…and it was OUR IDEA!”
Predictions for Q1 2009: Behind-the-scenes closed-door meetings to solidify ideas on how to keep the major label profit streams while creating the illusion that the sisters are doing it for themselves, as it were.
Unthinkable (but likely) future: Major labels shifting from the old model to a new corporate sponsorship deal. Instead of having your tour sponsored by Bud Light, the labels approach the old sponsors and tell them “You join our syndicate, give US the money and WE sponsor the artists.” in 2010, concerts are sponsored by Interscope, who then contractually require the use of the Bud Light and Apple products in high visibility placement (like in repeated closeups on the stadium cam, feh) and etc.
Damn, where’s my consultancy check from the major labels? I just created the future of (bad) music.
September 29th, 2008 at 6:57 pmi want my iphone amazon mp3. lyric?
September 29th, 2008 at 11:56 pmseriously, iphone amazon mp3 store would be amazing.
September 30th, 2008 at 10:40 amMy favorite part is how Walmart is spinning the story to make everything is wonderful and jolly because you still get to keep your music…. yeah, you get to keep it on the same machine without ever being able to remove it. Have fun never throwing away your Windows XP computer just so you can replay the Rolling Stones album that you dropped 10 bucks on!
Oh well, it’s not like anyone actually bought music from Walmart anyway. Let’s face it, it didn’t exactly spring to mind when I wanted to find a new song.
September 30th, 2008 at 12:51 pmi got a free mp3 download coupon but i can find the site to download the songs. could you plese tell me how to go there?
November 20th, 2008 at 3:53 pmthanks