We'd probably have to take our shoes off to count all the physical formats that have been released in hopes of supplanting the
J-Pop indie rock CDs on our shelf, but Warner Music Group is going to give it another go. Their new "DVD album" (not quite as exciting of a name as those
SACDs or
DualDiscs, but look how they turned out) features stereo and surround sound mixes of the album, along with a whole bunch extras like ringtones, remixes, photos and video footage. The real kicker is that Warner is supposedly close to a deal with Apple that will allow them to bundle pre-ripped iTunes versions of the tracks. Those in the know are saying that Apple will probably create the tracks and then ship 'em to Warner for placement on the DVDs, since Apple is loathe to license their DRM tech. We're not completely sure how the tracks can be tied to a single computer if they aren't bought straight off the
iTunes Music Store, but we're sure they'll figure out something.
[Via
iLounge]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
thieu75 @ Aug 4th 2006 6:14PM
it would be a good thing, a first step ?
Norway, Finland and Suede : will it be enough to soft the negociation
cheers !
Josh Warner @ Aug 4th 2006 6:20PM
I am just now getting into DualDisc (plays on Audigy 2 and higher hardware for PC; Sony won't allow SACD on PC so I don't have any of them) but a couple of albums I bought recently had pre-encoded MP3 rips at ~160 kB/s that were *DRM Free*. The point being that you could use them with any portable player, including the iPod.
I don't know how widespread this is, but why the heck would people opt for proprietary content when the option is already there for content that is free (of restrictions)?
Maybe the discs I got are not the norm, and I rip the CD layer lossless anyway (not interested in low bitrate MP3) but this seems to be yet another new piece of DRM that is labeled as a "feature."
Verticalforce @ Aug 4th 2006 6:21PM
I am not excited.
Boo.
Andrew @ Aug 4th 2006 7:44PM
great....their screwing anyone that doesnt have fn ipod.....thats why i hate buying major label...whats next...everybox has a camera in it to know where the disc goes.....i hear a boycot coming
-Andrew
Uchendu Nwachukwu @ Aug 4th 2006 8:04PM
Most likely they'll include a code in the box which you can type into the iTunes Music Store which will let you download the relevant tracks for free.
anonymous @ Aug 4th 2006 8:17PM
Actually, Apple doesn't do much (if any) iTunes encoding in-house. Any label or distro who wants Apple to sell their material must use iTunes Producer, which rips, encodes, and FTPs the CD to their ingestion stage. (Without DRM - this happens at the point of sale)
For older albums issued under this plan, Apple simply has to pull material from their storage systems and send it over for pressing.
bob @ Aug 4th 2006 9:07PM
2 mistakes, itunes is licenced to motorola, and itunes songs can be put on up to 6 computers, as well as being burned and i think they changed it to as many ipods as you like.
Justin France @ Aug 4th 2006 10:00PM
Bob is correct: 5 computers, any iPod, no idea (as in, don't really care) how the ROKR is integrated into it all. I reckon it doesn't need any authorisation though.
As for buying pre-ripped iTMS tracks - wtf? Why would you do that if you're buying in a physical format? Sounds like a lame attempt to "value-add" to the DVDs, with no actual benefit to the consumer.
Maybe if it came as Apple Lossless.. even with DRM that'd be sorta cool.
Justin France @ Aug 4th 2006 10:03PM
"...with no actual benefit to the consumer."
I'll add... unless you've got an iPod, which applies to alot of people, i s'pose.
I,Robot @ Aug 4th 2006 10:14PM
That's nice. Good luck to ya Warner Bros... let me know how that turns out.
zach @ Aug 4th 2006 10:29PM
I WROTE A TEN PAGE ASSESSMENT OF THE MUSIC INDUSTRY IN 2002 STATING THAT THIS IS THE NECESSARY NEXT STEP. COUPLE EXTRA FEATURES ON A SECURE MEDIA.
TOO BAD THEY ARE TOO LATE!!!
IF THEY WERE SMART THEY WOULD COUPLE NON-DIGITAL PRODUCTS WITH THEIR DIGITAL PRODUCTS!
WHY NOT LIMITED EDITION T SHIRTS, POSTERS, TICKETS ETC!???
THOSE CHEAP BASTARDS!
Wry Cooter @ Aug 4th 2006 11:24PM
It was always my thought that the DRM watermarking is accomplished when the tracks are brought into your music library via iTunes. Which is the only way to get them from iTMS by the way. They could have the copycount set before download from the store however, which could be similarly done on the DVD.
I would imagine that the tracks could be on the DVD in a similar fashion (or possibly, just require that one connect to iTMS for downloading) The notching of the DRM, fair for most peoples use, happens as the track is pulled to the iPod, or wherever, via iTunes.
There are AAC tracks without DRM, but the tracks on the DVD will have the Fairplay DRM. If you want the convenience of using a nice syncable database, you will probably be using iTunes regardless, to hear the tracks.