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Microsoft Set to Unlock EMI Songs, Too
linumax writes "Microsoft has stated that it may be close to reaching a deal with EMI to sell songs without anti-piracy protection via the Zune platform. This, from comments made by head of marketing for Zune Jason Reindorp. They come hard on the heels of EMI's announcement that a deal with Apple to sell songs without DRM protection through the iTunes Music Store has been struck. Mr Reindorp said: 'We've been saying for a while that we are aware that consumers want to have unprotected content. This does open things up a little bit. It potentially makes the competition more of a device-to-device or service-to-service basis, and will force the various services to really innovate.'"
Not only that but they innovated the idea before Apple ever did !!
davecb5620@gmail.com
Now, let's hope the albums cost less than the current store CDs, given the reduced material and sales costs. I'm sure that's what will happen, right?
would they have do so even if Apple didn't convince EMI to drop DRM?
I think not.
Like all Microsoft products, it will blow chunks until 3.0 so keep waiting. It has nothing significant to offer over iPods, let alone 90% of the more recent non-Apple players. This just isn't all that important in the world of music hardware...
How to Download YouTube Videos
Man, I hope so. That makes two very important gadget co.s and one major label...
Part of me wants to continue boycotting their stuff anyway, as punishment for years of bad behavior
My turnips listen for the soft cry of your love
So there are a few directions this could take, here's the ones i can think of:
1) They unlock certain songs, and shortly thereafter, claim these songs are now more-heavily pirated, and use it for justification to sell more DRM to recording agencies
2) Same as #1, except they claim the songs are not selling better, and declare that DRM isn't an obstruction
3) they still include some kind of DRM but call it something else
4) They've actually seen the light, and are now going to try to innovate instead of regulate.
Did I miss any?
P.S. I don't have a lot of confidence in 4).
It probably goes without saying, but this isn't some initiative on MS' part. It's riding Jobs' coattails, crying "me too!, me too!", as if MS is some kind of crusader for consumers' rights around music and DRM.
Interesting how MS plays this as "opening up" things for the consumer. We'll see. I wonder how much progress MS has really made unencumbering consumers' music.
I don't hold my breath waiting for MS to do anything for me. I cringe they are jumping on this as a potential PR windfall for them and their Zune. Fortunately, the Zune was pretty much issued DOA, and this doesn't make a whit of difference.
What about "squirting" device-to-device? I didn't see anything about this in the article, but then again I didn't read it very carefully (this is /., after all...) I can only assume that because the Zune DRM-izes just about every song on your device when sharing, even those that you recorded yourself, EMI songs will probably still suffer from the 3-days/3-plays restriction...though I suppose MS could just argue that lifting the restriction would just encourage piracy.
Still, I don't think it's fair to call this DRM-free until all the digital rights management restrictions have been lifted.
I left my wallet in El Sigundo!
If I'm not mistaken, Bill Gates has paraded around in recent times saying that "customers want [DRM]"? It's ok to say you're wrong, Bill.
Of course they're aware that that's what consumers want. I think it's also pretty obvious that they don't like it, though, because it goes against their traditional strategy of vendor lockin.
'We've been saying for a while that we are aware that consumers want to have unprotected content.'
Since when? As far as I know, what they are trying is to provide the ultimate protection to content, from the file format to the media player software to the output hardware.
...are done rejoicing, can we appropriately tag this article as irrelevant and slownewsday?
I'm curious... Does this mean that EMI is dropping the DRM requirement on wireless Zune to Zune transfers as well? Without that insipid "3 day, 3 play" DRM rule, the wireless song transfer option on the Zune just became a hell of a lot more useful!
:(
Of course, it would also make it a hell of a lot easier to pirate songs as well. Something tells me that the RIAA would never let this happen
So can I buy them in MP3? You know, for my MP3 player.
I'm very happy for Zune Tune Bune and Fune users, but I have an MP3 player and I'd like to buy music in MP3 for it.
Hi, i'd like to welcome you all to our monthly bussiness strategy meeting. The agenda of this months meeting is basically the same as last month:
1. What has Apple been doing this month?
2. What has Google been doing this month?
3. Are there other interesting things to copy?
If I can buy uncrippled, high quality media files, I will. ~256K VBR mp3 is about the lowest I'll consider. Yes, I can hear the difference, consistently. Apple's 256K AAC should meet this spec, though I haven't listened to much AAC.
Now, it's time to optimize the price. I'm aware that the actual costs of distribution over the net is very low, and I don't care about marketing costs, because virtually nothing I listen to is marketed at all. I don't like being ripped off. $1/song is still a ripoff, but for uncrippled content I'll probably buy a few albums I've been wanting, just to encourage them.
But. At $.50/song and $5.00/album, I'd buy 100 albums today. I've got a five year backlog to catch up on. Probably be good for another 10/month, too.
Come on, music labels. Talk to your artists, see who's willing to experiment with the prices. Healthy industries with real competition experiment with prices to find the most profitable price points. You're pricing like a monopoly, but you're forgetting that we do have alternatives: Free legal music, free illegal music, boycott, video, games, books, etc. I suspect you'd make a lot more money if you weren't so greedy, scared, contemptuous and contemptible. Why not find out?
I read that same phrase with skepticism too. It would be more accurate to say consumers want their content to "just work", and to work on all their devices. All the hardware and software restrictions only serve to lockout one type of person, the type willing to pay instead of pirate.
I think that this is just more evidence that Apple's success with iTunes with respect to market share really put the record companies over a barrel. They've wanted to raise the price of tracks from 99 cents for a long time now, but apparently didn't have the leverage over Apple to make them do it. Without higher per track prices on iTunes, there was no way they could get it at any competitors, who were already at a huge disadvantage anyway.
So when Jobs started talking about removing DRM, probably not just a coincidence, it set the stage for EMI to offer DRM free tracks, but at a higher price per track. It looks as if stripping DRM was the price of raising the price per track. Perhaps the record companies are realizing that removing DRM is the only way in the near term of loosening Apple's grip on the digital music market. Of course it is interesting to note that the DRM-less tracks from iTunes will be in AAC format which, while other players can support it, will tend to keep most people in the iPod fold since converting to other formats like MP3 is a hassle most consumers would prefer not to be bothered with. So I would look for growth in the number of AAC supporting players.
To the making of books there is no end, so let's get started
Every time someone does something cool, Microsoft always has to chime in. It's like the annoying little brother who is always following you around; whenever you say anything, he always says "Me too!" and then goes on to explain how what he did is even better. For anyone who didn't have a younger sibling growing up, it's hard to overstate the annoyance factor.
Netscape revolutionizes the Web -- MS creates free Internet Explorer. OSX introduces Expose, the Dock, and Widgets -- four years later Vista "innovates" with duplicate features. Apple rakes in millions with the iPod -- Microsoft creates poo-colored, squirting Zune. Google goes IPO -- MS announces "all-new, improved, better-than-ever" MSN search. Apple announces DRM-free music -- you guessed it: Me too! Me too! Me too!
I don't hate Microsoft (though sometimes it seems like they work awfully hard to make people hate them) but I'm not buying their "We want to eliminate DRM too" PR either. Microsoft's media file format, software, hardware player, and store are all strong arguments that that's a load of monkey excrement.
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If I'm not mistaken
But you are (well, at least the real picture is a bit more muddled)
Even the MPAA knows that current DRM encourages piracy by making paid-for music more of a hassle.
Reduce, reuse, cycle
The truth is, were Linux accessible to the masses, Windows would be free.
You would think MS would eventually get sick of playing catchup to Apple and other innovative companies and actually try innovating something themselves for a change.
Then require DRM to ensure that this innovation protecting market driven idea is fully implemented.
I can't help but wonder when the first RIAA lawsuit is brought forth against Apple or MS for "Enabling Filesharing" by "Failing to protect copyrighted content". And then going after the HDD manufacturers for making access to the files so easy.
I'm having a hard time believing it, but apparently it's true....
Yes, I guess they are still selling Zunes.
Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum sonatur.
And thank you for advancing the cause of DRM-free music by paying that $1-per-Zune ransom to the music companies and pushing your proprietary WMV format.
What did you want Microsoft to do when Apple made this announcement? Simply ignore it, and turn more people away from the Zune platform? They're doing what they have to in order to stay current with their competitors, which is what the Zune is all about. I know this is "me too", but can you blame them for wanting to stay a competitive force (however small they may be) to Apple?
"It's a reverse vampire...they....they crave the sun!"
Give us lossless FLAK or WAVs and I'm sold. Enough of this lossy compression crap.
"the fact that buying spinning *metal* media discs is silly these days"
CDs are not metal =]
I want MP3s it's really simple, why does every one of you try to twist it into 'buy AAC' or 'buy WMA'
I think that this is a major mistake by EMI, Apple and Microsoft (particularly MS) as it has the possibility of seriously damaging relationships with vendors, manufacturers, RIAA and possible the MPAA, let alone US Government and the lobby group.
So much money and technology has been invested in DRM by major corporations to prevent piracy that this may lead to major problems and ethical considerations as well as corporate trust in MS.
I most certainly hope that MS knows what it is doing and not just a knee jerk reaction!
Don't be apathetic. Procrastinate!
Apple was the first company that ever offered DRM-free downloads, right?
Some facts to accompany your quip:
Coldplay's album "X&Y" is an EMI release.
Full album from iTunes Store = $11.99
Full album from Amazon = $11.97 + S&H
Full album from Best Buy = $13.99 in store
Full album from Caiman via Amazon Used & New = $11.93 with shipping
Sure iTunes isn't the absolute cheapest way to get it, but the tradeoff of price/convenience seems reasonable to me. Get it within minutes from iTunes, or pay $2.00 more and pick it up at Best Buy, or save $0.06 and get it in a few days from Caiman. I never thought the cost of the physical media was ever a big factor in the price of music.
AlpineR
Wasn't the zune the device that added DRM to anything you put on it? Or was it just when you "shared" it (that 3-days, 3-plays thing)?
Great deal - get DRM free music from EMI. Put it on your zune - *bang*, DRM added. Another MS shoot-yourself-in-the-foot moment.
Assorted stuff I do sometimes: Lemuria.org
So since they're $10/album, are you going to buy 50 albums and 5 more each month?
Warning: Apple/Nintendo fangirl. Likes her electronics cute & cuddly. May be rabid.
Minds in the gutter are going to be thinking about Microsoft getting consumers to Open Up, Riding them, & Squirting.
No, and if they were $100/album, I wouldn't buy 5 albums and one more every two months. I think that the field of economics has a term for this phenomenon. Maybe you could look that up. Or you could read my original post. This time see if you can't manage to glance at every sentence.
I've never needed to try this, because I haven't used
Uh...
How does this move work with their monthly subscription service that is heavily dependent upon DRM? What prevents these people from paying $15, downloading the noncopy-protected songs, then simply dropping their subscription? Their songs will still play.
It was one of the main reasons Apple gave for not wanting to follow the subscription model.
This is just on the back of a rumor that Microsoft is planning to give out either a discounted or free Zune with a paid subscription to the Zune Market.
"...innovate" They keep using that word, I do not think it means what they think it means...
Appologies to Mr Montoya
"Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts." ~The Honorable Daniel Patrick Moynihan
Because apple/google(or $random_company) have never been guilty of copying something other companies are doing. Shouldnt that be the secondary focus of EVERY company? What is the competition doing and how can we do it better?
Seriously, though, I think $5/album is a bit of a pipe dream. You really think $10 isn't a fair price at all? How much did you pay per CD back when you were buying 10 a month?
Warning: Apple/Nintendo fangirl. Likes her electronics cute & cuddly. May be rabid.
... each time a marketing creep from MS inovates some sentence! When will it end!
realkiwi
since the squirting always drms, it doesnt matter even if your songs are public domain. the enuz player encumbers all music.
This will turn into a new race of online content distribution innovation apparently. Whoever jumps in the bandwagon will get miles ahead of their competition, who miss it will be forgotten.
Read radical news here
And why do you have to try to force people into using yesterday's technology? The world does not revolve around you and does not owe you anything. Technology evolves and is not necessarily compatible with your old stuff, so either find your own way to be happy with your old stuff or buy a new product that's compatible with the newer technology.
AAC is better sounding than MP3 at the same bitrate, has a better tagging scheme, and millions of people have no problem playing AAC and ripping CDs into AAC. As a bonus for businesses, it does not cost a royalty per song.
Businesses compromise between offering what customers as a whole want and generating profits, not trying to make you happy at all cost. If you don't like it, don't buy. It's really that simple.
Translation: because I can find them for free now, and I've convinced myself I'm entitled.
If I can buy uncrippled, high quality media files, I will
No, you won't.
But. At $.50/song and $5.00/album, I'd buy 100 albums today.
At $.50/song you'll set the bar at $.25.
The Zune software lets you easily "reverse sync" your content from the Zune device back to the PC, if needed. That's one thing they got right. (iTunes only lets you do it for DRM content, currently. You need to use non-iTunes methods to get the content off.)
[sb]
This might get modded "Redundant," but I've seen so many arguments below about who copied whose idea, who's pretending to innovate, who is good, and who is evil, that I thought it would be helpful to point out:
EMI approached Apple.
They also said they would be fine with other stores doing it. Chances are pretty high that they also approached Microsoft, probably simultaneously, and that the details just took longer to hammer out and MS didn't want Apple to take all of the credit. Note the "may be close to signing a deal" language -- it takes a long time for big companies to get a deal signed.
-snarkbot
p.s. It is possible MS saw Apple doing it before they considered it, but that's a pretty damned quick turnaround time for a deal like this.
"'We've been saying for a while that we are aware that consumers want to have unprotected content"
then why the hell do you have DRM at all?
I no to sell music they may need it for contractual reasons, but why is there OS loaded with that crap?
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on
This from the company that spoke loud and clear "all you little music fans are thieves - THIEVES!" when they rolled over and cut MCA-Univsersal a cut on the sale of every Zune.
Oh! Now customers don't want DRM! Think they'll recind the profit-sharing deal?
Uhhhhhhh - nope.
...furthermore there's always OGG, which although is still a lossy compression format, the audio quality still beats MP3, WMA and ASF by enough to make a difference to me.
Just get an iAudio (Cowon) X5 and you can play any of the popular formats and hear the difference yourself. And yes, the X5 plays FLAC too.
"The same thing we do every day, Pinky: leverage our monopoly on the desktop to take over other markets."
My turnips listen for the soft cry of your love
So does the Reverse-Synced content have DRM that wasn't there before?
Weird, because I have. Back before emusic changed their terms of service, I subscribed. I think maybe they've changed them again, but it doesn't matter: they've proven they can't be trusted to honor a deal.
Nope. There are people like that. I'm not one of them. I'd actually like the artists I enjoy to get paid. And I'd sign a contract to back that up. $500 now, $50/month for a year. I've been waiting for it for years. If I just wanted free stuff, I wouldn't have waited. I'd have it now.
No. The whole "Zune adds DRM to everything" is a myth. If I put songs without DRM on my Zune, they exist on the Zune without DRM. If I reverse sync them, they come off without DRM.
The only time it adds DRM is when you receive a file from someone over wifi. Period.
This will mean a lot to the dozens of customers who have purchased the Zune. Thanks Microsoft.
"EMI's new DRM-free products will enable full interoperability of digital music across all devices and platforms."
EMI does not have a retail online music store where you can buy digital music for all devices and platforms. They sell to wholesalers like Apple who chose just one format which is in compatible with almost any player which is a member of the Plays for Sure camp including almost all Janis and MTP format players and most DVD players and car MP3 CD players.
EMI is supporting all devices and platforms has now also signed up the Microsoft Zune store. There is yet to be an announcement from Microsoft on what format they will supply to the Zune store. Somehow, I suspect it will be incompatible with the Plays For Sure devices. I also suspect squirted tunes will somehow become encumbered by the 3 day 3 play restriction due to how it is implimented. I am not expecting Microsoft to purchase DRM free MP3's. I do suspect there will be connectivity issues for those with a Plays for Sure player and a Zune account.
Keep an eye on e-music. Somehow I suspect they will be left out simply because they are not going to pay the high prices. EMI is not going to make an exception on price for emusic because Apple and Microsoft would have a cow if they did undercut them with emusic.
The truth shall set you free!
The 3play/3day restriction is on the "Inbox" itself, it does nothing at all to the files.
"What is the competition doing and how can we do it halfassedly?"
FYP.
My turnips listen for the soft cry of your love
I think the economic term you're looking for is "elasticity". Music sales are highly elastic because a slight change in price results in a sharp change in quantity demanded or supplied (the supply of music is nearly infinite; after all, it's just data).
It was a really good paper.
Consumers also don't want WMA because iPods don't support the format without conversion, i wonder what format MS is going to use for the non-DRM music.
Zune, WMA, MP3 or AAC?
Sorry, my response was more a response to the general slashdot "you", and not you in particular. The statements you made are repeated often here and look a lot like self-justification. Of course there are likely a few who mean what they say, too.
I also had an emusic account and canceled because it took forever to find stuff. Then they sent me a teaser re-instroduction and simply following their link to learn more signed me up. Nitwits. Canceled again, of course.
Interestingly, it's possible that getting rid of DRM makes it possible for EMI (and the rest of the music industry) to break Apple's lock on the online music industry.
It's a method for the music industry to force competition between online music vendors, thus increasing EMI's profits.
CDs are not metal =]
They are in part. The reflective layer is a thin sheet of aluminum.
Then why are you advocating yesterday's technology?
Ogg Vorbis is better sounding than AAC or MP3 at the same bitrate, has a better tagging scheme, is free, open-source, and not patent-encumbered. There is no royalty per song, per encoder, or per decoder.
Many people have no problem playing Ogg Vorbis and ripping CDs into Ogg Vorbis. My iRiver H320 player is loaded with Ogg Vorbis music and works great.
Disgusting.
Is there a vorbis decoder that doesn't require an FPU yet?
I will quite happily take any openly published format, and avoid any proprietary one. I would quite happily accept audio files in vorbis format, and convert them if necessary to play on another device.
http://spamdecoy.net - free throwaway anonymous email - avoid spam!
Is there a vorbis decoder that doesn't require an FPU yet?
Yes, it's called "Tremor":
Wikipedia link
"You need to use non-iTunes methods to get the content off."
No you don't. You can set the Ipod as a flash drive. This will allow you to copy its encoded music folder onto your HD.
Then, with the IPOD disconnected, open Itunes and import the encoded music folder.
Itunes will add it to your library, unencoding it in the process.
Don't be apathetic. Procrastinate!