Microsoft to boldly go where Apple is already going...eventually
Submitted by Merlin on April 7, 2007 - 5:17am.
Microsoft changes tune on selling DRM-free songs
Exciting news on the digital music front. Microsoft plans to follow Apple’s plan to sell DRM-free tracks from EMI to its extant army of Zune enthusiasts. Welcome to the social:
“The EMI announcement on Monday was not exclusive to Apple,” said Katy Asher, a Microsoft spokeswoman on the Zune team, in an e-mail to the IDG News Service today. She said Microsoft has been talking with EMI and other record labels “for some time now” about offering unprotected music on its Zune players in an effort to meet the needs of its customers.
Way to innovate, Redmond. Once the period of EMI’s exclusive deal with Apple has ended, this should make both Zune owners very happy.
[via: Boing Boing: Microsoft dropping DRM from Zune Music Store]
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Apple really found a way...
Apple really found a way to get the positive press out of EMI’s announcement. That was probably why Steve released his “memo.” He definitely knows how to get the attention drawn his way.
As for the issue at hand, I have read some good commentary on the announcement by Shelly Palmer on media 3.0. He doesn’t think DRM is really a big issue – it’s licensing, for personal use and User-Generated Content. The music industry is missing out on a huge revenue stream, and has to find a way to capitalize on it.