Last of the "big four" labels to offer DRM-free music tracks
Record labels are remaining on the offensive when it comes to battling iPod maker Apple Inc. for revenue share in the digital music business, with word spreading that Sony BMG will soon join the ranks of other major labels in offering its catalog through some online retailers stripped of copy protection measures.
The move would see Sony BMG become the last of the top four music labels to drop DRM, following word from Warner Music Group in late December that it also plans loosen its grip and sell DRM-free songs through Amazon.com's digital music store. EMI and Vivendi's Universal Music Group both announced their plans for DRM-free downloads last year.
The concessions also represent an about-face for the recording industry, which for the better part of the digital age has resorted to DRM to protect its catalogs from widespread piracy over peer-to-peer and other Internet file sharing networks.
"In abandoning DRM on à la carte song purchases, the labels could create a raft of new, less restrictive ways of selling music over the Internet, such as through social networks like Facebook and News Corp.'s MySpace," BW went on to speculate in its report. "Partnerships with retailers such as Amazon could also help the music industry take a swipe at Apple, which has come to dominate the legal download market through a one-size-fits-all pricing scheme record labels find restrictive."
The business mag said further details of Sony BMG's plans are expected to emerge in the coming weeks, adding that Justin Timberlake, the popular recording artist signed to the Sony-owned Jive label, is participating in a Super Bowl promotion with Pepsi that will kick off Feb. 3 and offer free distribution of 1 billion songs from major labels, including Sony BMG, through Amazon's DRM-free download service.
30 Comments
They will likely follow suit and do Amazon only. Then Apple will fight back with forming their own record label with Jay-Z.
They will likely follow suit and do Amazon only. Then Apple will fight back with forming their own record label with Jay-Z.
The record labels are terminally ill. Artists will sell their music direct to the public via iTunes, Myspace and other websites.
They will likely follow suit and do Amazon only. Then Apple will fight back with forming their own record label with Jay-Z.
What does it say about the labels that they are willing to sell non-DRM to everyone BUT Apple? What message does that send to the customers? You can have music the way you want it, but you can't get it where you want to get it.
What would people think if Coke and Pepsi suddenly stopped selling their products in only one chain of supermarkets?
So instead of working to improve the customer experience and finally catch on to the music revolution, the Big labels just set their sights on a new enemy (Apple) and continue their old tricks, to the detriment, once again, of the paying customer.
The people have spoken. They want to use iPods, and they want to buy songs from iTunes, because it's the most convenient way to go about buying music for an iPod. Despite having several other options for years. They also want to pay a set rate for songs and albums, not the "variable" pricing schemes that promise cheap music but open the gate for higher and higher prices instead.
I'm all for Amazon succeeding, but I want that to happen on an equal playing field. Keep both Apple and Amazon honest.
It's clear that the end game for the labels is "crush Apple at all costs so we can get control over prices again and then start gouging like we always have." Whether or not they succeed depends on the gullibility of the average music purchaser.
I hope Apple does start its own label. And I hope independent labels start growing in number and popularity. The Big Four need to die as soon as possible.
The record labels are terminally ill. Artists will sell their music direct to the public via iTunes, Myspace and other websites.
I don't think most of the artists are that smart.
I think the big winner will be the firms that stand between Apple and the artists and do the actual work of promoting, touring and logistics.
Its too much for any single artist and their personal team to handle worldwide sales, promotions, etc...they have no skill in this realm, and it is highly likely they have no interest in developing these skills either. For a small piece of per unit sales, a digital label could middleman the labor side and make a decent penny...
Let's boycott EMI label. No more song purchase from EMI. They start this nut strategy. And they will loose