Under the Jobsian-minimalist title: "Thoughts on Music", Apple's boss gives his perspectives on DRM and why its the big labels that are the ones preventing a DRM-free online music marketplace and not iTunes. Its presumed target are European regulators and consumer groups who have called on iTunes to tear down its walls....
... Imagine a world where every online store sells DRM-free music encoded in open licensable formats. In such a world, any player can play music purchased from any store, and any store can sell music which is playable on all players. This is clearly the best alternative for consumers, and Apple would embrace it in a heartbeat. If the big four music companies would license Apple their music without the requirement that it be protected with a DRM, we would switch to selling only DRM-free music on our iTunes store. Every iPod ever made will play this DRM-free music....
...Much of the concern over DRM systems has arisen in European countries. Perhaps those unhappy with the current situation should redirect their energies towards persuading the music companies to sell their music DRM-free. For Europeans, two and a half of the big four music companies are located right in their backyard. The largest, Universal, is 100% owned by Vivendi, a French company. EMI is a British company, and Sony BMG is 50% owned by Bertelsmann, a German company. Convincing them to license their music to Apple and others DRM-free will create a truly interoperable music marketplace. Apple will embrace this wholeheartedly.
This does contradict what an Apple lawyer supposedly said three years ago, but perhaps times change. Allowing for this and taking the Jobs commentary at face value, one still needs to ask: What about the indie labels and the 30 percent of music that is uncontrolled by the the major labels?
The Nettwerk Music Group is one indie label that is famously against DRM. It has many of its albums up on iTunes. Why not let Nettwerk and other labels choose whether their music should be wrapped in DRM or not? Maybe set up a category for "DRM Free" tracks and show the majors how they might be able to sell more music if FairPlay was stripped. Sure, Nettwerk's stuff is up on DRM-free eMusic, but let's get an Apple for Apple comparison, so to speak.
It's great to hear from you and see what you've been up to. In your blog I feel your enthusiasm for life. thank you.
Posted by: Asics Onitsuka Tiger | March 23, 2011 at 03:01 AM
that its not that hard to do an on the fly capture. So thats all good. NOW the inmortapt part. Does this mean that its a US only thing (Brett's special fancy needed) or a world release (I assume the former). Still I see it as a step in the right direction, whether that makes it to the Neanderthal and recalcitrant networks we have in Australia is another thing altogether (we still don't have TV delivered through iTunes)
Posted by: Alan | April 18, 2012 at 06:31 PM