<![CDATA[Why Universal Shut Out iTunes on DRM-Free Music - Gizmodo Comments]]> http://cache.gawker.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/gizmodo.com.png <![CDATA[Why Universal Shut Out iTunes on DRM-Free Music - Gizmodo Comments]]> http://gizmodo.com Mon, 13 Aug 2007 12:06:58 EDT Mon, 13 Aug 2007 12:06:58 EDT http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/tuning-out/why-universal-shut-out-itunes-on-drm+free-music-288062.php <![CDATA[Why Universal Shut Out iTunes on DRM-Free Music]]> http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/tuning-out/why-universal-shut-out-itunes-on-drm+free-music-288062.php#c2113176 The main problem is that most other music stores sell music in WMA format, which don't play on iPods. Sure it may be DRM-free WMA rather than the usual DRM'd WMA (you can't tell by looking at it, unlike AAC - .m4p == protected, .m4a == DRM free), but you still have to convert it.

And if eMusic isn't on the list (who do sell MP3s...), fat chance for the iPod market. WMA to MP3 tools exist (Apple provides one for iTunes) but I believe it's Windows-only...

Worf

]]> 4:288062:c2113176 Mon, 13 Aug 2007 12:06:58 EDT <![CDATA[Why Universal Shut Out iTunes on DRM-Free Music]]> http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/tuning-out/why-universal-shut-out-itunes-on-drm+free-music-288062.php#c2108072 This is a mistake. DRM-free is not the path to salvation. Sure, from the short-term perspective it's better for the consumer, but in the long term it makes piracy easier, which will lead to further decline in sales. The final result is that Record Companies will not have funds to invest in new productions, and so the overall quality of new music in the marketplace will decrease. Imagine a world where the only music available is low budget, low quality and produced by amateurs who don't care if they make a cent.

bdemenil

]]> 4:288062:c2108072 Sun, 12 Aug 2007 12:53:44 EDT <![CDATA[Why Universal Shut Out iTunes on DRM-Free Music]]> http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/tuning-out/why-universal-shut-out-itunes-on-drm+free-music-288062.php#c2106604 1) As the articles states, there is NO science behind this experiment. They have confounded two variables: a) DRM and b) Distribution source (iTunes, Amazon, Wal-Mart, etc.). This means that NO conclusions can be drawn for either variable. If these new tracks sell like crap we don't know if it's because people don't care about the presence of DRM or if they just prefer to buy things on iTunes. If they sell great, we don't know if it's because people are desparate to get DRM-free files or they want to buy from sources aside from iTunes. The ONLY wayt to conduct a valid experiment is to sell both DRMed and non-DRMed files from the same source, thereby gauging how many bother with the DRM-free option: you know, kind of like what EMI is doing right now on iTunes. You're little "experiment" cover-story is transparent, Universal. Nice try.

2) The only thing this "experiment" is checking is to see how much online sales Universal can manage *WITHOUT* iTunes. This has nothing to do with DRM other than the fact that lack-of DRM is being used as a tool to lure people away from iTunes. Rembember, it is Universal itself that makes iTunes use DRM, not Apple.

3) Why does Universal want to find a way to cut ties with Apple? Because Apple is too powerful to be bullied. They can bully all the other companies for ridiculous licensing agreements, like they way the convinced Microsoft to give them a cut of all Zune sales *for no reason*. Universal's only goal is to extort more money from the online distributors. That's it. Apple is no saint, but they are the only company with the clout and balls to stand up to the record labels.

Remember, if the question is "who is more evil" and a record label is one othe options, the answer is always the record label.

Padriac

]]> 4:288062:c2106604 Sat, 11 Aug 2007 20:08:11 EDT <![CDATA[Why Universal Shut Out iTunes on DRM-Free Music]]> http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/tuning-out/why-universal-shut-out-itunes-on-drm+free-music-288062.php#c2104252 Most of you are missing the point. iTunes is an interface for downloading and listening to content. Apple is the best at interface design. A web browser is a poor way of downloading and listening/reading or watching content. Once you download it then you have to do something else with it. What a pain in the butt. iTunes is awesome for content distribution. Give Apple their props. DRM free is awesome but I will buy it through iTunes.

aplman

]]> 4:288062:c2104252 Sat, 11 Aug 2007 00:24:13 EDT <![CDATA[Why Universal Shut Out iTunes on DRM-Free Music]]> http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/tuning-out/why-universal-shut-out-itunes-on-drm+free-music-288062.php#c2103807 OK. I have a question, If the music is DRM free who cares if it comes from iTunes or not? Last I checked iTunes was fully capable of importing music.

calebc

]]> 4:288062:c2103807 Fri, 10 Aug 2007 22:57:29 EDT <![CDATA[Why Universal Shut Out iTunes on DRM-Free Music]]> http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/tuning-out/why-universal-shut-out-itunes-on-drm+free-music-288062.php#c2102784 Man, I just want my money for nuthin' and my chicks for free!!

banmojo

]]> 4:288062:c2102784 Fri, 10 Aug 2007 19:15:29 EDT <![CDATA[Why Universal Shut Out iTunes on DRM-Free Music]]> http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/tuning-out/why-universal-shut-out-itunes-on-drm+free-music-288062.php#c2102434 @willyboy: Naturally, your comment compelled me to listen (again) to the brilliance that is the Chocolate Rain 8-bit remix by Coda.

It's DRM free. (Heh.)

ProfessionalGun

]]> 4:288062:c2102434 Fri, 10 Aug 2007 18:18:53 EDT <![CDATA[Why Universal Shut Out iTunes on DRM-Free Music]]> http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/tuning-out/why-universal-shut-out-itunes-on-drm+free-music-288062.php#c2102368 @sumocat: Very well stated!

ProfessionalGun

]]> 4:288062:c2102368 Fri, 10 Aug 2007 18:10:23 EDT <![CDATA[Why Universal Shut Out iTunes on DRM-Free Music]]> http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/tuning-out/why-universal-shut-out-itunes-on-drm+free-music-288062.php#c2102048 Wow cool Mike Tyson.

StackyBotrus

]]> 4:288062:c2102048 Fri, 10 Aug 2007 17:31:01 EDT <![CDATA[Why Universal Shut Out iTunes on DRM-Free Music]]> http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/tuning-out/why-universal-shut-out-itunes-on-drm+free-music-288062.php#c2102028 Excuse me. "artist and producer is a dead stick"

willyboy

]]> 4:288062:c2102028 Fri, 10 Aug 2007 17:28:43 EDT <![CDATA[Why Universal Shut Out iTunes on DRM-Free Music]]> http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/tuning-out/why-universal-shut-out-itunes-on-drm+free-music-288062.php#c2101959 "is a dead stick"

willyboy

]]> 4:288062:c2101959 Fri, 10 Aug 2007 17:23:02 EDT <![CDATA[Why Universal Shut Out iTunes on DRM-Free Music]]> http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/tuning-out/why-universal-shut-out-itunes-on-drm+free-music-288062.php#c2101929 The idea of artist and producer is becoming a dead stick. Though there is a lot of amateur shit to wade through out there, the musicians are becoming better at creating and distributing their own content.....Hoohray for the web....!

willyboy

]]> 4:288062:c2101929 Fri, 10 Aug 2007 17:20:49 EDT <![CDATA[Why Universal Shut Out iTunes on DRM-Free Music]]> http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/tuning-out/why-universal-shut-out-itunes-on-drm+free-music-288062.php#c2101887 Chocolate Raaaaaiiiiinnn.

willyboy

]]> 4:288062:c2101887 Fri, 10 Aug 2007 17:17:07 EDT <![CDATA[Why Universal Shut Out iTunes on DRM-Free Music]]> http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/tuning-out/why-universal-shut-out-itunes-on-drm+free-music-288062.php#c2101684 In his famous article "Marketing Myopia" Professor Ted Leavitt described the buggy whip industry and observed that no amount of product improvement could prevent the evaporation of the industry.

The record industry is on its way to becoming a new buggy whip industry. Eliminating DRM is the kind of ineffective product improvement Leavitt described.

The industry needs to reinvent itself is a free, ad-supported medium.

Check out the Ad-Supported Music Central blog:[ad-supported-music.blogspot.com]

mscohen91

]]> 4:288062:c2101684 Fri, 10 Aug 2007 16:58:36 EDT <![CDATA[Why Universal Shut Out iTunes on DRM-Free Music]]> http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/tuning-out/why-universal-shut-out-itunes-on-drm+free-music-288062.php#c2101556 So here's how I fix my music habit. I'm a hard-core fan of about 12 artists and I get email updates from them letting me know they have a CD for presale (and in some cases that I can download their music without DRM). So I do my buying direct for these groups.

Other than that, every Tuesday evening I hit the iTunes store to see what's new. In the old day's I'd have gone to my local music shop on Saturday, but hey, the greedy labels let them die off. Apple's iTunes store means that except for my 12 favorite artists, they get first shot at my music money. Does Universal really think I'm going to check out the label of each CD that catches my interest and head to another store just in case it is A) a Universal product and B) one of the items that is being sold without DRM? I don't think so.

No, the twits at Universal probably see this experiment in the same way they viewed Apple's iTunes gambit several years ago. It is a win/win game. If Apple's dominance is maintained Universal can throw up their hands and say, "Hey, what else can we do? This proves that the Apple music monopoly is insurmountable. Senators, we need relief!" And if people do flock to Universal's DRMless sites Apple's bargaining power is weakened.

So here's what I'm going to do: During this experiment, any time I find a Universal artist has a new CD out, I'm going to their website to let them know I'll buy it from the iTunes store once I can get it without DRM. Until then, I'll do without it. Universal doesn't listen to me, maybe the artists will.

davidwb

]]> 4:288062:c2101556 Fri, 10 Aug 2007 16:49:16 EDT <![CDATA[Why Universal Shut Out iTunes on DRM-Free Music]]> http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/tuning-out/why-universal-shut-out-itunes-on-drm+free-music-288062.php#c2101438 tyson has a tat of Che Guevara?

zaq2g

]]> 4:288062:c2101438 Fri, 10 Aug 2007 16:39:48 EDT <![CDATA[Why Universal Shut Out iTunes on DRM-Free Music]]> http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/tuning-out/why-universal-shut-out-itunes-on-drm+free-music-288062.php#c2101434 @LenPict: You assume one is better than the other? One wanted DRM, the other implemented it. Sounds like equal fascism, if there is such a thing.

ester

]]> 4:288062:c2101434 Fri, 10 Aug 2007 16:39:33 EDT <![CDATA[Why Universal Shut Out iTunes on DRM-Free Music]]> http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/tuning-out/why-universal-shut-out-itunes-on-drm+free-music-288062.php#c2101081 Yep, it's just a test to see if they can avoid the iTunes Store and still reach iPod users. Ironically, by insisting on DRM, the labels forced the market to favor one music provider over the others, in this case, iTunes. If they had allowed their music to go DRM-free from the start, neither they nor anyone else would be so beholden to a single outlet.

sumocat

]]> 4:288062:c2101081 Fri, 10 Aug 2007 16:09:36 EDT <![CDATA[Why Universal Shut Out iTunes on DRM-Free Music]]> http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/tuning-out/why-universal-shut-out-itunes-on-drm+free-music-288062.php#c2100522 Props for creating "promiscuitize". Heretofore an idea without a word.

wlcrm

]]> 4:288062:c2100522 Fri, 10 Aug 2007 15:28:42 EDT <![CDATA[Why Universal Shut Out iTunes on DRM-Free Music]]> http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/tuning-out/why-universal-shut-out-itunes-on-drm+free-music-288062.php#c2100180 Toejam - What music service do you prefer over iTunes? All of the other digital music stores have pretty much the same selection but worse organization and menu systems. eMusic is the only truly different one, but you can put anything you buy off eMusic into iTunes and onto your iPod already.

Cameron G

]]> 4:288062:c2100180 Fri, 10 Aug 2007 15:00:47 EDT <![CDATA[Why Universal Shut Out iTunes on DRM-Free Music]]> http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/tuning-out/why-universal-shut-out-itunes-on-drm+free-music-288062.php#c2099895 Apple is the smart one here. Their dominance in the digital music arena isn't a fluke. They have 10's of millions of loyal fans. If Universal wants a fight they will get it. All these people have been playing Universal's game and then they change the game and alienate the people who are actualy buying their music online? If I want DRM free music I'd steal it not buy it! I personally like Itunes music store and I hate Universal Music group. So I plan on many people like me revolting with - less sales on Itunes music store of Universal products and less sales at non-Itunes online stores.
They are messing with the wrong group. I buy music because I wanted to support the artist. I get angry when the music industry makes restrictions on the sale of that music. I think this is really seperatist! Facist & downright Evil!


sbfunlover

]]> 4:288062:c2099895 Fri, 10 Aug 2007 14:43:54 EDT <![CDATA[Why Universal Shut Out iTunes on DRM-Free Music]]> http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/tuning-out/why-universal-shut-out-itunes-on-drm+free-music-288062.php#c2099838 @TOEJAM357

Wait, did you say that, between iTunes (Apple) and the record labels (RIAA), iTunes are the fascists?

LenPict

]]> 4:288062:c2099838 Fri, 10 Aug 2007 14:41:04 EDT <![CDATA[Why Universal Shut Out iTunes on DRM-Free Music]]> http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/tuning-out/why-universal-shut-out-itunes-on-drm+free-music-288062.php#c2099544 kudos to Universal and anyone who makes an effort to break Apple's stranglehold on the digital music market! i love my ipod but i hate having to use iTunes. also, if the record labels become extinct, whose going to produce and distribute music, those facists at iTunes?

toejam357

]]> 4:288062:c2099544 Fri, 10 Aug 2007 14:22:14 EDT <![CDATA[Why Universal Shut Out iTunes on DRM-Free Music]]> http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/tuning-out/why-universal-shut-out-itunes-on-drm+free-music-288062.php#c2099396 Universal has the right to sell their music wherever they choose. And there is not point on trying to have an intelligent debate on where their decision to shun iTunes is good or bad on the internet, because any intelligent comments will be smothered by fanboy rhetoric. The real question is what is Apple/iTunes asking for or refusing in order to cause Universal to shun them?

ester

]]> 4:288062:c2099396 Fri, 10 Aug 2007 14:11:01 EDT <![CDATA[Why Universal Shut Out iTunes on DRM-Free Music]]> http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/tuning-out/why-universal-shut-out-itunes-on-drm+free-music-288062.php#c2099295 @BITFACTORY: don't be such a nitpicker about spelling, especially if you spell buy as 'by' - ouch...

yogibimbi

]]> 4:288062:c2099295 Fri, 10 Aug 2007 14:03:35 EDT <![CDATA[Why Universal Shut Out iTunes on DRM-Free Music]]> http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/tuning-out/why-universal-shut-out-itunes-on-drm+free-music-288062.php#c2099241 did Iron Mike win that fight? I mean, the other guy looks like he would drop by the draft of air created by Mike's fists if he were to miss. But Tyson also looks a lot fitter on that photo.

yogibimbi

]]> 4:288062:c2099241 Fri, 10 Aug 2007 13:59:59 EDT <![CDATA[Why Universal Shut Out iTunes on DRM-Free Music]]> http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/tuning-out/why-universal-shut-out-itunes-on-drm+free-music-288062.php#c2099225 ... that's 'you're' - and also, FTR, I don't care where music is delivered - I don't by DRM'd music. Period.

bitfactory

]]> 4:288062:c2099225 Fri, 10 Aug 2007 13:59:05 EDT <![CDATA[Why Universal Shut Out iTunes on DRM-Free Music]]> http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/tuning-out/why-universal-shut-out-itunes-on-drm+free-music-288062.php#c2099202 hey its a start, if universal does drm free music the others will have to follow

greysky

]]> 4:288062:c2099202 Fri, 10 Aug 2007 13:57:59 EDT <![CDATA[Why Universal Shut Out iTunes on DRM-Free Music]]> http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/tuning-out/why-universal-shut-out-itunes-on-drm+free-music-288062.php#c2099197 Universal is full of shit. They want to find a lever to force a flat fee per iPod purchase. And your right about iTunes being a poor control group. Then again, no one has ever accused a record label with a think tank.

bitfactory

]]> 4:288062:c2099197 Fri, 10 Aug 2007 13:57:42 EDT <![CDATA[Why Universal Shut Out iTunes on DRM-Free Music]]> http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/tuning-out/why-universal-shut-out-itunes-on-drm+free-music-288062.php#c2099169 Honestly, at this "late" point in "the game" I don't really care if the product is DRM free or not. I am not buying ANYTHING that is a product of an RIAA member.

RIAA, you brought this upon yourself.

axiomatic

]]> 4:288062:c2099169 Fri, 10 Aug 2007 13:55:44 EDT <![CDATA[Why Universal Shut Out iTunes on DRM-Free Music]]> http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/tuning-out/why-universal-shut-out-itunes-on-drm+free-music-288062.php#c2099003 "But, what's really being tested is the viability of non-iTunes online sales."

That about sums it up. No need to make a two page article out of it.
If Universal pulls this off, we'll be in a DRM-free world within the next 1-2 years.
If it doesn't, it might take 5.

Hvedhrungr

]]> 4:288062:c2099003 Fri, 10 Aug 2007 13:43:12 EDT