Sony BMG to Offer DRM-Free Music
Businessweek reports that Sony BMG is the last of the four major record labels to agree to offer their music for sale without Digital Rights Manangement (DRM) restrictions. The news comes a week after Warner announced it had added its catalog to Amazon's DRM-Free MP3 store.
This new DRM-free music agreement will be in place for the upcoming Pepsi/Amazon Superbowl promo, in which 1 billion songs will be given away.
These unrestricted MP3s will work with Apple's iTunes and iPod, with added benefit for the record labels to take some power away from Apple's iTunes store which continues to hold the majority of digital music marketshare. This agreement does not necessarily mean that we will be seeing DRM-free versions of Sony BMG's catalog on the iTunes Store.
This new DRM-free music agreement will be in place for the upcoming Pepsi/Amazon Superbowl promo, in which 1 billion songs will be given away.
These unrestricted MP3s will work with Apple's iTunes and iPod, with added benefit for the record labels to take some power away from Apple's iTunes store which continues to hold the majority of digital music marketshare. This agreement does not necessarily mean that we will be seeing DRM-free versions of Sony BMG's catalog on the iTunes Store.
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54 months ago
The same Sony BMG that installed spyware via their proprietary media player, wrecking numerous Windows machines a year or so ago?
54 months ago
For the industry as a whole this is good news...no DRM on music is what consumers want. Question is what price are they going to stabilize at. 99cents for old tracks? $2.49 for new ones?
I'm curious what would be the ultimate pricing structure....
I'm curious what would be the ultimate pricing structure....
54 months ago
The funny thing is, they're playing right into Apple's hands.
It's a logistical burden to manage the iTunes Music Store, and for little direct profit. With some competition out there, it allows Apple to reduce some of their operating expenditure of hosting such a large library but they'll still reap the profit.
How?
Well, unless competitors come out with more appealing hardware than iPod, and a more user-friendly, convenient integration system than iTunes for managing content between computer and Mp3 player, iPod will continue to dominate the market.
The beauty of Steve Jobs is not that he is a master marketer, but that he knows how to turn just about any situation to his advantage no matter what the competition does.
:D
It's a logistical burden to manage the iTunes Music Store, and for little direct profit. With some competition out there, it allows Apple to reduce some of their operating expenditure of hosting such a large library but they'll still reap the profit.
How?
Well, unless competitors come out with more appealing hardware than iPod, and a more user-friendly, convenient integration system than iTunes for managing content between computer and Mp3 player, iPod will continue to dominate the market.
The beauty of Steve Jobs is not that he is a master marketer, but that he knows how to turn just about any situation to his advantage no matter what the competition does.
:D
54 months ago
For the industry as a whole this is good news...no DRM on music is what consumers want.
Actually, most people don't even know what DRM is.
54 months ago
I would be interested if that automatically translates into ITMS being allowed to offer iTunes+. I would rather buy a 256kBits HE-AAC than a MP3.
Plus Amazon is not available in Germany :(
Plus Amazon is not available in Germany :(
54 months ago
It's like watching an infant try and make their first steps.
Only not as cute or fun.
Only not as cute or fun.
54 months ago
I just don't get it.
I prefer iTunes (i don't care if it costs a bit more than others), and the only other online store I use for my DJing is beatport. The only quarm i have is i'd like longer previews.
So the labels that are not with iTunes are just missing out on my money.... I'm not the only one who thinks like this.
It's sad that record labels can be like they are.
I prefer iTunes (i don't care if it costs a bit more than others), and the only other online store I use for my DJing is beatport. The only quarm i have is i'd like longer previews.
So the labels that are not with iTunes are just missing out on my money.... I'm not the only one who thinks like this.
It's sad that record labels can be like they are.
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