[mythtv-users] mythtv-users Digest, Vol 58, Issue 125

[Joe Borne]

On Mon, 28 Jan 2008 09:58:39 -0500
Matt Emmott <memmott at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> While this may be similar to the eleventh-hour Napster model, it is by no
> means the original Napster free-as-in-beer model. This appears to be
> nothing
> more than DRM-ed music that you can carry with you, just like Microsoft's
> FairPlay and the Yahoo Music Jukebox + Sansa Connect model (which I've
> been
> using for years).
>
> >From the article:
>
> " Qtrax files contain Digital Rights Management software, allowing the
> company to see how many times a song has been downloaded and played.
> Artists, record companies and publishers will be paid in proportion to the
> popularity of their music, while also taking a cut of advertising
> revenues."


I do agree that there are differences in the specifics. But my point is that
the basic concept is the same. The music is free, and the revenue is
generated through the ads or a subscription. The Napster "Hail Mary Pass"
proposal had a very similar concept, and also included a subscription
component. The only critical difference here is the DRM inclusion. It's
fascinating that it's basically stripped down to a tracking system now. I
know the tinfoil hat crowd will see ominous import in that, but I think the
reality is far more benign. (One commenter already thinks the whole thing is
a ruse to implode the free music ecosystem). I'm not advocating for any form
of DRM, I hate it in any incarnation. But the truth is that the recording
industry has a lot vested in it and they are going to try to find a use for
it. If DRM evolves into a mechanism that allows them to track the popularity
of files and allocate revenue proportionately to the artists, then it's a
good thing.

I love James Blunt's comment in the article. God that guy is a world class
asshat.

I imagine that several Qtrax clones will appear in a matter of months and
competition form them will eliminate the DRM. It was competition from
Wal-Mart and Amazon that caused Apple to start offering DRM-free items.
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