For some time now, I've been railing on DRM or Digital Rights Management the poison with which the Recording Industry laces MP3 Files. Chief pusher of the poison has been I-Tunes. With DRM removed, I would gladly have an account on I-Tunes and it would probably change my music buying patterns forevermore. As it is, I have poked fun at I-Tunes since its inept inception, despite the fact that sales from I-Tunes now exceed hard-copy sales.

Instead of backing down, and saying that I was wrong, I came to the conclusion that I-Tunes, Napster (the New Napster), Rhapsody and their ilk are still poisonous, wretched things, and online consumers are simply too stupid or lazy to know that they are giving their money away.

Looks like I might be right.

The surprising news is not that Warner Music steadfastly, adamantly, diametrically opposes the removal of the poison known as DRM, and said the very idea is "without logic and merit", even though continuing to use DRM is like pissing in their own food dish, then complaining about the taste.

The surprising news is that Steve Jobs is the man behind the suggestion to remove DRM. Maybe he reads my blog? Color me shocked.

I think all it will take is a very popular online service to offer un-poisoned downloads, and some big musicians to tell companies like Warner Music to kiss their ass, and then Warner Music can go shrivel up in the corner and die, along with some Old, Fat, White Suits who work there.

Rumors of Amazon offering MP3 Downloads abound, and Myspace is inching its way into music distribution for indies. Mp3tunes.com has been trying this approach for years, but they are simply not adding the big names, nor are they spending a dollar on marketing. Garageband.com is doing better.

Sadly, none of these outlets will work unless people get educated about music copy protection and make a stand. New labels need to open up, working through the new outlets (Like garageband.com) Artists have to cope with the fact that their music will be traded on P2P systems. They have before, and they still are. DRM has not stopped it.

But most importantly, people need to stop being Sheeple and refuse to fund such horrific business practices. Read the damn EULA when you make an account with I-Tunes!

If you understand that the hamburger you are buying is laced with poison, and you don't care, then you can still go right ahead and consume away, that's fine. Hell, people still bought Nike after they were busted running sweatshops. But at least you should know what you are buying, or more importantly, NOT buying.

Now that I think about it, this is a good time for the music industry to iron these distribution problems out, because there is very little music the major labels are releasing that is worth buying. All the good stuff is through the indie channels now anyways.

Thanks to Lifehacker for the link.

Blog on,
-CZ

Labels: DRM Sucks