Wal-Mart Ditches DRM... And Lots Of Major Label Music With It
from the so-long,-goodbye dept
Over the last few months, the meme has taken hold that the big record labels had finally come to terms with the fact that DRM didn't help and only frustrated users -- and was finally okay with getting rid of it entirely. That sounds good, but it appears that the labels are still having trouble letting go. Wal-Mart's online download store has finally abandoned selling any DRM'd tracks, but with it, it's lost almost all music from major labels like Sony/BMG and Warner Music. Considering that some really major acts appear on both labels, this seems like a rather huge limitation of the Wal-Mart online store which should be trying to present a rather strong front against iTunes. It's unclear who's at fault here. Wired blames Wal-Mart for launching the DRM-free store before it was really ready, but there's an equal chance that the fault is on the part of the record labels who still don't seem completely comfortable with finally killing off DRM.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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Filed Under: download stores, drm, record labels
Companies: sony bmg, wal-mart, warner music
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No fault, simply arrogance. Wal-mart decided to open an online DRM-free music store. Being the 2-ton gorilla it is, it saw no reason to work out deals with the music industry. It will create the store and require DRM-free music or it will simply refuse to sell it.
And of course the music industry is arrogant for not recognizing the failure of DRMed music in the first place.
Since the major labels are licensing Amazon DRM-free music, it's only a matter of time before Wal-mart gets it too. So in the end Wal-mart will win out over the labels.
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The other option is that...
Seems a drastic move on their part to relinquish its #1 status so fast after Apple's takeover.
The market dwindles yet again.
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Foot Shooting
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Another Perspective
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I didn't think there was any other way of interpreting this... I mean, it may be other things as well - like the tech support issues discojohnson mentioned - but that would still be just part of the whole 'get rid of DRM or else' message.
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Wal-Mart Ditches DRM... And Lots Of Major Label Music With It
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Sorry, but I'm officially and entirely done with MTV's and Clearchannel's offerings, and as a successful dj, I'm glad I can say that.
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Really?
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Beatles
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Another Perspective
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http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20031107/1134211.shtml
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It's what they do.
But since most of us geeks want to see high quality, DRM-free music available online, this is a good thing. WM may not have as big of an online presence as some other stores, but they're still absolutely a dominant force for consumer sales in general. Just like when you watched your class bully overstep his bounds and get beat up by some older kid, I'm delighted to see WM put some pressure on the record labels. Go get 'em, smiley-face of doom!
Oh, and drop your lawsuit against the brain-damaged woman already.
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But you still have to install shit to buy it...
Until I tried to buy the song I was looking for and was told that my computer needed an 'update' to purchase the music. The 'update' consists of a vaguely described installation that seems to have something to do with downloading the song. That's really all it tells you. And the average consumer really will believe that they're getting an 'update' and go blithely along.
I would rather pay 9 bucks for the whole album with the song I want than have thier shit on my computer.
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Re: Re: But you still have to install shit to buy it...
You do have to have it to download an entire album at one time instead of clicking each song individually, but clicking each song individually is a very not big deal and for me (cable internet) it seems faster to click them individually.
So please check your facts before you post.
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All Walmart Needs To Do
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Besides... They need to start implementing new business models that utilize DRM free music before they start actually selling, imho.
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That's not true at all.
You do have to have it to download an entire album at one time instead of clicking each song individually, but clicking each song individually is a very not big deal and for me (cable internet) it seems faster to click them individually.
So please check your facts before you post.
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