End of an Era - Music goes DRM free

Wow! and well WOWWW!

EMI just announced earlier today they are selling their entire catalogue of music (100%) Digital Rights Management (DRM) free! WOW.

I have said this over and over again, I won’t pay for music until I can do what I want with it when I want. The second part I usually never get to is that the quality being dropped on us consumers was sub-par and is a disgrace so I am glad that not only did EMI announce DRM free music today (WOW) but also an upgrade to their current quality from 128 to 256kbps.

Don’t worry about the numbers so much because what it means in real terms is music of comparable quality to CDs if not arguably better.

You may wonder why so many WOWs and well for me its like coming home. As much as I refused to purchase music until now, I didn’t like my situation. I don’t like being unethical, and helping others to do the same that is just not me.

So for me its like coming in from the cold, EMI you are allowing me to enjoy music again and for that I thank you.

Now the ugly pot shot… Too bad it took EMI nearly 10 years to understand they were going to lose a war. Its too bad Sony and Universal haven’t followed yet and sadly its really terrible that kids and parents are still out thousands of dollars in legal fees and fines and possibly jail time because companies like EMI, Sony and Universal.

Rejoice I am going to start buying from iTunes as soon as I see DRM-free and Sony and Universal just so you know, you won’t get my cash until you follow suit.

Now to the pirates (guys like me), its time to lay down your weapons, we have won, encourage your friends to start buying again, discourage them from stealing. We don’t have a principled position to hold onto anymore.

This is a great day and a long time coming. What are your thoughts? Will you start buying? Will it take some adjusting too?

TechCrunch was the guys who got the information in my hands first and they also have EMI’s slides too so check out the seminal work there.Tags: techcrunch, emi, itunes, drm, drmfree, music

| |

Ping THIS! |

Viewing 5 Comments

Philip Wilkinson 1 year ago 1 point
Please login to rate.

Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.

Yes - this is great news and I'm really pleased EMI and Apple have done this. Kudos to them.

I'm going to start buying my tracks from them and upgrade my existing collection to the new high quality. They will make around Â£100 from me just me just from this alone in the first week - imagine how much more they'll get from everyone else!

reply edit reblog flag

http://www.crowdstorm.com

Roger 1 year ago 1 point
Please login to rate.

Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.

Hey Phil

Thanks for dropping in.

What do you think about the RIAA giving back the money they coerced from parents because of their kids online music trading habits? I am torn between an outright refund or allowing the company to claim 'no wrong doing or responsibility' but at the least donate the proceeds to a charity of the parents choice.

For me either way I don't think the RIAA should retain any of those fines they handed out to parents over the last 5 years.

reply edit reblog flag

Roger 1 year ago 1 point
Please login to rate.

Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.

And yeah I bet EMI is going to make a couple hundred of me this year because I have 't bought any music at all since 1998 so I am due for a spending spree.

reply edit reblog flag

  Apple must be pretty Co 1 year ago 1 point
Please login to rate.

Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.

reply edit reblog flag

Jim Mirkalami 8 months ago 1 point
Please login to rate.

Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.

I have been a frequent visitor of this blog for some time now, so I thought it would be a good idea to leave you with my thanks.

Regards,
Jim Mirkalami

reply edit reblog flag

http://www.yahoo.com/