timaeus

I would not call them idiots. Maybe misinformed or unaware of other options. Also, downloading from iTunes is more seamless and easier to do for iTunes/iPod/iPhone users, and to some, worth the extra 10 cents (in a few cases). Most of Amazon's tracks are 99 cents (same as iTunes) while some are more and some less.

The wifi iTunes store is another huge plus that Amazon will never get the opportunity to match. I wouldn't call someone stupid because they want to purchase a song and listen to it immediately. Instead of having to go home, open their browser, navigate to amazon, search for the song they want, download it, import into itunes, then sync to their mp3 player.

Not everyone is as technologically advanced as you, and a seamless experience is more important to them than saving a few pennies (some of the more popular tracks are more expensive on Amazon anyway). Also, most people who download from iTunes do not understand what DRM is or even what it stands for. Unless you have dozens of devices/computers you want to play the track on or want to pirate the music, DRM does not necessarily affect you.

The numbers speak for themselves. iTunes is number one right now for a reason. The people who value higher quality bit rates and no DRM (like yourself and me too :) ) are the ones in the minority here.

In conclusion, a seamless and user-friendly experience is much more important to consumers than DRM-free tracks and a hardly noticeable (to most people) difference in quality. iTunes is moving away from DRM anyways and providing more and more tracks at 256 kbps with iTunes plus.

justinpe

RalphWiggum

robjennings

I suggest supporting independent artists. The big record companies take about 90% of the profits from artists right now. Apple has little to do with determining how much of a cut the artist receives. Apple takes their cut, and then the record company decides how much the artist will get. Typically a contract, with a big signing bonus, will be put in place which takes all of the power away from the artists.

justinpe

imTheKing

I agree that at this point, purchasing CDs is superior to downloading from iTunes. Mostly because you have a physical product that also acts as a backup, and not all iTunes tracks are DRM-free. The only real advantage to iTunes is convenience and the ability to fulfill impulsive tendencies (at this point). I would, however, like to take it a step further and say that purchasing vinyl is a better option than CDs in many cases. Most record companies (at least the independent ones where I get most of my music) now offer MP3 versions of the album you buy with the purchase of the record, either through a web site or on a CD. The MP3 files are DRM-free and vary in quality depending on the record company. I enjoy listening to records at home and also have the convenience of bringing them with me everywhere I go. If a record that I want does not have a digital copy included with the purchase, I will typically download it from P2P. Buying vinyl gives you two entirely different formats at about the same price as a CD. Also, vinyl tends to hold its value (and sometimes appreciate) more than CDs.

justinpe

Galley

skilled1

Jakus

lianna_g

imTheKing

snitch29

I look forward to the day when the entire iTunes catalog is DRM free. I also look forward to the day when more artists distribute their albums on iTunes and other music retailers without going through big name labels.

And that is what I am talking about =P

R2B2

Agree, regarding the DRM. I'm not so much opposed to DRM as I am to 128 kbps AAC. I'm no audiophile, but I can definitely tell the difference between 128k and 256k.

DRM is... well, since all good things come to an end, we have to contemplate the possibility that at some point, Apple/iTMS will go under. Perhaps the Zune will suddenly become a super duper PMP that not even an Apple fan like me can resist it. As unlikely as these scenarios are, they are possibilities, and then and only then would I care about the DRM.

Of course we all know there will always be ways around it, so I'm not all THAT worried about my tunes becoming obsolete, but it'll make life a little easier if the DRM wasn't there to begin with.

Dearhaw

What are you talking about? iTunes is competitive with Amazon. In fact iTunes beats the crap out of Amazon.... and every other online music retailer combined.

If you're talking about the number of non-DRM'd tunes, then you have a point, but your choice of words is poor.

Dearhaw

R2B2

R2B2

I guess you don't have any hip friends then...

Is it cramped in the closet in which you have resided for the last 7 years?

MINI Driver

btdown

R2B2

Your negativity is depressing and misplaced

This is one hell of an achievement, and the first time it's been done (obviously)

Despite all your bitching and moaning about Apple - I didn't see anyone else capable of stepping up to the plate to achieve this, certainly not the record companies, certainly not MS.

So yip de do to Amazon et al, but they wouldn't be doing dick right now if iTunes hadn't pioneered and turned the industry on it's head.

And in case you haven't noticed, Apple has the record industry by the short and curlies right now - they're the #1 outlet and that gives them one hell of a lot of leverage.

MINI Driver

snitch29

92BuickLeSabre

snitch29

daikaiju

First, you can hook up your ipod to any computer and take all the DRM-free music you want or any other files for that matter (enable disc mode). Sure, it won't sync with more than one iTunes library, but why would you really need this unless you were trying to steal music? Nobody complains about this because it is really not a big deal. What other product or method would you suggest besides Apple's? Of course they can't break the law. Are you suggesting that all music should be free to everyone and everyone should be able to share it without consequence? This would result in no music or very very bad music which you probably listen to anyways, so i guess it wouldn't affect you?

justinpe

I should have said:

It is the record labels fault that Apple can't distribute their music the way they want to. Youre right, it is just a matter of negotiating and compromising. I guess it would be just as easy to make the argument that it is Apple's fault for not compromising.

justinpe

Sloth

iTunes/Apple are at the mercy of the music industry's threats of secondary liability lawsuits. They are just another tentacle the music industry controls at this time. There are very few things Apple fears more than being labeled a facilitator of infringement through technology (iPod/iPhone) development. Thus, you see those "don't steal music" messages on the wrapping around your iPod at the urging of the RIAA. Whatever the RIAA concocts next, Apple will quickly adopt despite Steve Jobs' public urges for otherwise.

And once the majority of people realize iTunes is just another RIAA crony, they'll move on.

Samifumi

No, pay attention, it's for Apple to agree with the labels as to how they want to sell DRM free music. It's not the labels fault.

Sleeper_Service

imTheKing

justinpe

Samifumi

Some people like to hang their hats on their past achievements (you and your 1st place in your 5th grade spelling bee, Al Bundy and his high school football days). Others like to look to the future, see what is beyond, and strive for more. I like to look at where things are going. And that is why I fail to see the "achievement." We knew it was coming a long time ago. So we are here. What's next? Being the defender of all things Apple, celebrate today. There are obstacles in the future you are just too busy toasting your Apple cohorts to recognize or discuss at this time.

The reason I mention DRM (and the big reason DRM is so opposed by Apple, but still part of iTunes) is because it will be part of the reason many people move away from iTunes. Steve Jobs never came out as an opponent to DRM for the sake of being a consumer advocate. He did so because he sees the writing on the wall. An iTunes without DRM is just a pit stop in the road for the downloading public. Stop giving him more credit as a radical or a consumer advocate than he deserves. He's just trying to keep Apple at the forefront of music distribution by removing potential complaints the service will see (and a reason many might move back to CDs for their copyright material distribution).

Samifumi

Apple refused to raise its prices and the record companies said, fine, here are some DRM tracks you can try to sell.

Also, all tracks from EMI are DRM-free on both iTunes and Amazon.

justinpe

Also, why was this story mentioned twice in the same day here?

Gofastmazda

?????????????????

Did I say something that suggests otherwise? Apples wants DRM-free tracks, it is the record labels fault, Apple already has contracts in place with all of the major studios.

justinpe

Actually, the reason iTunes is still DRM infested is because they cannot reach a commercial agreement with three out of the big four. Once they do so they'll drop the DRM but it'll be on the labels' terms, not Apples.

Sleeper_Service

imTheKing

imTheKing

justinpe

Sleeper_Service

You still can't demonstrate why this is insignificant. If it really were not such a big deal, why are you taking the time to comment?

Anyone becoming number one at anything is an achievement. I got 1st place in my 5th grade spelling bee. However small this achievement may have been, it is still an achievement.

You also keep rambling about iTunes DRM, when you obviously have no clue about Apple's history (and future) here. They have been one of the biggest DRM-free proponents since the iTunes store was launched. Yet you say that iTunes is going to go down the tubes because they keep instituting more DRM on their tracks. This is clearly not the case.

justinpe

This event is just the day downloading a song became the preferred way to obtain a song over buying it in a brick and mortar store. Wow. We all knew this day was coming: it was the more efficient way to distribute copyrighted material. People prefer to download one song from an album for $1 over buying the song they really wanted for $10 on a CD (and maybe getting lucky there was another song they would like down the road).

So, iTunes now represents the king of the "legal" downloading crowd? Whoop. I'm more interested where it stands in relation to the P2P downloads over the same period of time. As more people open up to the concept of downloading their music, iTunes will only be a stop in the road for those people before they find a P2P service to download for free.

Samifumi

Christibyte

DRM on iTunes tracks is not Apple's fault. It is the fault of the record companies. Apple was one of the first companies to call for DRM free tracks. Their contracts were already in place when Amazon made a deal, and eventually everything will be DRM free on iTunes (music that is).

justinpe

dOk

Tehrab

I guess I don't understand how one can fail to recognize the significance of this. That is like saying, "well the Giants won the super bowl, but I don't understand why it is significant or even an achievement at all. Several other teams had more wins throughout the season, blah blah blah."

Are you saying it is not significant because they are only selling one song at a time? It's not significant because people still download illegally? It's not significant because they are kicking Amazon's ass, even with DRM still shackling a big portion of their music selection?

You're not significant...

justinpe

hu_hu_cool

No. Why don't you go and actually read the myriad of articles that are out there; NYC isn't merely using an apple shaped logo in an ad campaign. They're trying to TM it.

As for iTMS becoming No. 1, uh, great, but when are we getting the entire collection in iTunes+ ? I don't know if it's the fault of Apple, the record companies (more likely the culprit) or the combination of the two, but as someone said, Amazon is currently a better place to buy music, if it's in their catalogue. My current music buying flow is: check iTMS if they have it in iTunes+, if not, go to Amazon and see if they have it (and buy if yes), and back to iTMS and really mull over whether or not I want to shell out $10 for a 128kbps DRMd AAC.

Often times, I decide no.

Let's work on it harder, Apple.

Dearhaw

twg77

Gentlemen, start your lawyers.

Samifumi

Not so awesome news for the recording industry execs bent on destroying iTunes/Apple. I feel bad for their shareholders.

Tehrab

Now how many people like to download 1 good song for free from a P2P service instead? When iTunes pulls in that crowd, I'll be impressed.

Samifumi

sumocat

This is because they want to erode iTunes' market share. They gave the non-DRM contracts to Aamazon to help them steal some market share away from iTunes, to lower the leverage Apple has over the music industry. All comes down to the content owners.

MrBlahBlah

av8thor

redrabbit

Now say that in monotone. This will be the creed when Apple becomes a religion.

workingonyourinvoice

Dook_In_The_Urinal

bobdobbs

SchruteBuck

SchruteBuck

Geisrud

Late_Night

ILikeMacsWhatAboutIT

Maybe I should get a move on it and use the iTunes store now...

CutePuppyz