The music industry watchblog hypebot posted some interesting conversations today regarding the availability of DRM-free downloads. In particular, we learn why businesses like Rhapsody, Napster and others have yet to offer DRM-free downloads when EMI and the independent labels have made them available. Some claim that, while EMI and the indies are making a step in the right direction by offering their music without restrictions built in, the amount of music that this adds up to is not yet large enough to offer in their services.

Hypebot received a statement from Matt Graves, the Director of Music PR for Rhapsody/Real Networks which included this perspective:

“As to why we’re not out now with an indies + EMI-only DRM-free offering, while it’s a substantial amount of music, from our perspective it doesn’t yet reach that threshold of being able to offer most of what consumers are looking for.”

Does anyone besides me feel like this is a total cop-out? How hard can it be to set up a separate page or incorporate into existing pages the wealth of music that is offered by EMI and all independent labels combined? What incentive will there be for others to make music available without restriction until we can see how successful it is for those who have already done it?

I think the music industry is going to cling to DRM to their graves (no pun intended). The music industry as we know it, with the Big 4 Record companies and RIAA and all those obstacles between the musician and the listener is on its death bed. We will be subjected to its death gasp and death rattle when it finally expires, and a completely new and more efficient model will have replaced it. As consumers, we should accept this trend and look elsewhere for our music fixes and start buying music directly from the bands or using a music service that is embracing the future rather than clinging to the dead industry.

LINKS

hypebot Exclusive - Rhapsody’s Response

Pages about DRM free ~ EMI ~ music industry ~ Rhapsody