Record Labels Come Up With Another Physical Format You Don't Want Or Need
from the upgrade-time dept
Despite the entertainment industry's constant claim that they can't sell content when people can get it for free from file-sharing networks, there are plenty of ways they can (and already do) "compete with free": convenience, legitimacy, or simply offering consumers better value for their money. To that end, Warner Music is planning to start selling music on DVD, with a bunch of added content in addition to the music tracks. This isn't the same as DVD-Audio or DualDisc, but yet another format being foisted on the public. The DVDs would contain albums mixed in stereo and surround sound, as well as added video content and other digital extras that could be accessed on a computer. Bundling additional content with the music is an idea that sounds good in theory, but the WSJ article is short on details, and forgive us for expecting the record labels to follow through on this in their usual way: maximum inconvenice for marginal benefit. The biggest drawback is that the DVDs obviously can't be played in CD players -- Warner's workaround to this is to put "pre-ripped" digital copies of the song on the DVD that users could copy to a computer, then burn to a CD. That's fine -- if they're of sufficient quality and aren't encumbered with all sorts of copy protection and DRM, but we're not holding our breath, since apparently Warner is in talks with Apple to somehow use its DRM on the "pre-ripped" tracks, which makes it sound like you can forget playing them on any non-iPod digital music player. Of course, the DVDs will carry a higher price tag than current CDs, so any idea that this new format could offer better value might go out the window, too. Another issue is the labels' continued insistence on trying to find another physical format to sell people, instead of putting more effort into making online digital distribution work.Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
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More features please...
Wasn't there an article yesterday on how rediculously complicated cell phones are getting?
One has to wonder at the future of the music industry with all the added content. The MTV revolution pretty much killed good music by replacing quality audio content with clever visuals. Will the success of future bands depend on their ability to offer as many frills as songs? Probably.
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Re: More features please...
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He's driving around in a non-existent car!!!
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Re: More features please...
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Non-existent BMW...
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No 8 series HUH?
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"Worldwide production ceased 12 May 1999. Total built: 30,621"
May have been new to him but now NEW.
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no 8 series huh?
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Re: no 8 series huh?
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WOW...where can I get one???
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Re: WOW...where can I get one???
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Re: WOW...where can I get one???
he was just trying to make a point and have people appreciate him. unfortunately, his point was lame and he made it in a lame way.
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I keep hoping the majority of you people will actually post something worth reading rather than your own childish rants. Read the article, post something intelligent.
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plus the bmw 840 is a sweet machine...
if i remember right... all aluminum v-12 that does, yeah, like 360 hp. check THESE OUT.
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Sorry
Before someone starts slamming my car, let me offer this -- Its loud, rattles, and gets pretty decent milage for what it is, but it ain't no BMW and I know it. But damn is it fast.
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Actually about this article
I think this DVD with "pre-ripped" music is moronic. As a consumer, why would I want to buy a piece of plastic, and then use my computer to transfer the music to another piece of plastic which I've paid a few pennies for JUST so I can play the music in a device I have owned for years?!
This will add more time in between the purchase and when I actually get to listen to the music and it will fill up landfills with more garbage.
Way to go executive morons at Warner Music.
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at least
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8 series RULES!
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New format
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As for this article, I was trying to point out that I'm sick of new formats, and this one doesn't look any better.
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DVD on one side CD audio on the other
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Re: DVD on one side CD audio on the other
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On the other hand, these Warnder DVDs, from what I understand, could only be used on a computer, which sucks. If I'm wrong and it can be played in any DVD player, then it'll be fine.
It took CDs a heck of a lot longer to gain popularity (invented in the late 70s, didn't catch on mainstream until the early 90s) than DVDs did because technology wasn't progressing as fast back then, but once these DVDA discs start getting out there, people will buy and companies will produce cheaper DVDA players.
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me
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