Industry Finally Realizing That Ditching DRM Is Good For Business?

from the slowly,-slowly... dept

Mon, Oct 16th 2006 4:42pm — Mike Masnick

It's unfortunate that much of the "should there be DRM" debate is positioned as "the recording industry" against "people who just want free music." As plenty of people have tried to point out, there are lots of us who believe that ditching the DRM is actually in the industry's best interest -- and, in fact, their best way to build up a huge new business. It's a bit annoying, actually, when people simply lump anyone who's against DRM into the "they just want to ripoff free stuff" group. For those of us who believe there's a huge opportunity in the space, though, it seemed pretty clear that it was only a matter of time until the industry started figuring things out -- and it appears that's really starting to happen. First we've got an article highlighting how no DRM makes good business sense, that quotes the usual suspects from eMusic and Yahoo. Then, there's another article suggesting that even the major record labels are coming around to realize that getting rid of DRM is their best way to fight off Apple's stranglehold on the market. Even though it was the labels' own obsession with DRM that gave Apple that power position, it appears some may be realizing that DRM-free may be a better way to compete. In other words, it may actually be a good business strategy, and not just about people wanting free music.

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12 Comments

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Luke, 16 Oct 2006 @ 5:49pm

Whats this? The RIAA finally getting a clue? About time.
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Aaron, 16 Oct 2006 @ 6:26pm

Finally...
I'm glad to see someone, Goldberg, actually gets it...
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satan, 16 Oct 2006 @ 6:37pm

What they do...
What they do has no effect on me.
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Anonymous Coward, 16 Oct 2006 @ 7:33pm

They will get my business
A store that does this will get my business. My cars play mp3 cds but they do not do DRM stuff and I want the artists I like to keep making the music I like, so I buy it from online stores but I have to remove the DRM before I can use the music. Music should be like a book, I shouldn't need a special device to listen to it just like I don't need a special device to read a book.
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Starky, 16 Oct 2006 @ 8:00pm

Oh no!!!!
NOOOOOO!!!! Isn't this a sign of the apocalypse or something?! THE WORLD IS GOING TO END!!!!!!

Seriously, though, it's far past time that they realize that DRM only hurts the end user and makes their content worth less (and makes me prefer to download it instead to get a DRM-Free version, thus being counter-productive)
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yano, 16 Oct 2006 @ 8:01pm

Wow!!
Finally they are waking up! Who would have thought that the consumer would just want an easy way to listen to music with no hassle?
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cycle003, 16 Oct 2006 @ 8:39pm

I'll believe it when I see it
I'll believe it when I see it. I'm sure the **AA's definition of "DRM free" will not be the same as the tech community's.
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J, 16 Oct 2006 @ 8:42pm

I can't believe it
This is too good to be true. I feel the tears welling up as I type. I hope the good people at Tech Dirt aren't just leading me on.
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Justin, 16 Oct 2006 @ 9:09pm

You really don't think this is going to happen?
Give me a break...if all music was free...There wouldn't be any music to borrow :)

Someone will write some code that will take care of this minor problem...

I have 0 trouble now downloading what I want...

...Who gives a shit...LOL
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Anonymous Coward, 16 Oct 2006 @ 10:33pm

it would be nice, but link 1 is a bunch of nobodies knowing nothing spouting off prophetically and link 2 is a blogger speculating on a business venture.

Hope it works out, but saying the biggies finally see reality is premature based upon the content of the links.

I don't know why I keep techdirt and slashdot on my google page, the content seems really amatuer. I mean, keep the headlines in check with the reality of what it being reported already, my time is being wasted with nonsense headlines.

It is clear the writers have their pet issues, but there is no need to make every person's blog an authority supporting the position.

Heck, if I publish a blog that says DRM is dead will tech dirt make a headline and link to it?
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Chronno S. Trigger, 17 Oct 2006 @ 8:06am

your right
There is nothing in ether links to suggest that the record companies or any one else in power is trying out DRM free downloads, or even thinking about it. Even though I would pay for it if they did it.
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Eric, 17 Oct 2006 @ 10:32am

Free music?
I love the irony in the assertion that the people who want to purchase DRM-less music tracks "Just want free music".
Basically, these are people who want to give the record labels their money, and the record labels are saying "no". If I was a shareholder I'd be demanding the head of the CEO with business sense like that.
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