More momentum on this subject today, see below. I have been predicting this for the 12 months - DRM is about be toast. Check out my podcasts here (GerdRadio.com)
UK Register: EMI set to drag majors into DRM-free future | The Register.
"...the paper reports that EMI returned with new ideas late in January which, rather than asking to be paid for nothing, invited retailers to make advance payments on the music they wanted to sell. The shops' submissions were due back to the label yesterday, and EMI will decide whether to go ahead based on the total up front cash haul that dumping DRM would bring. Understandably coy about the imminent decision, EMI refused to confirm the process, describing reports as "speculation".
That EMI will likely be the first major label to ditch DRM entirely is no great shock - it already announced it would no longer encumber its physical releases in January. It even trialled selling DRM-free mp3s of some of its top-selling artists back in summer 2006 through Yahoo! music. Those trials failed to bring the global music industry to its knees, so it would be more surprising if talks with other retailers weren't ongoing. Happily for Steve Jobs though, his timing is impeccable; history will probably grant him much credit thanks to his media-baiting denouncement of DRM in open letter earlier this week...."
Steve Jobs always knows how to get his good share of media coverage - gotta hand that to him!
yes, indeed... but then again, it's not up to the Beatles, Apple, or Apple Corp - it's up to the Label to decide on the MP3 question... we'll see!
Posted by: Gerd Leonhard | February 13, 2007 at 03:28 PM
Gerd -
I'd be interested in your thoughts on my prediction here...
http://globallistic.blogspot.com/2007/02/beatles-emi-itunes-unprotected-mp3s.html
It's perhaps a bit sensationalistic, but what a story it would be, eh?
Posted by: Jason Herskowitz | February 10, 2007 at 02:08 PM