http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/ Engadget Comments for iTunes sales "collapsing," blanket licensing to succeed? http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/1. DRM and the whole "carve up the world" approach. There are lots of instances where something just isn't available for legit purchase in Australia. The whole industry approach to the "digital era" really alienated me too. They try to tell me that i'm not buying the right to listen to the music how when and where I like but in one format on a finite number of devices etc. I just think they responded really badly out of greed and instead of embracing the opportunities offered like selling the files so that people would burn their own cds etc (thus saving them money) they tried to find ways to limit peoples ability to use the files the way they wanted. Now I hate record companies on principle.
2. Lots of music really doesn't appeal right now, but even for the stuff that does, money is tight. I'm much more likely to make the sacrifice for something like the Dr Horrible's soundtrack because I feel all warm and fuzzy about supporting a great bunch of artists who try to treat me and others like me properly. Yay Show Friends :)

P.S. if you don't get the reference check out Dr Horrible's sing along blog (the Master Plan will explain all).]]>Sep 12th 2008 10:53AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/Dec 12th 2006 12:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/Dec 12th 2006 12:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/Dec 12th 2006 3:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/Dec 12th 2006 12:21PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/Dec 12th 2006 1:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/Dec 12th 2006 2:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/It's no secret that folks looking to pick up some new tunes would like to avoid DRM at all costs, but instead of seeing CD sales skyrocket, there's simply been a general decrease across the board in the whole "music buying scene."

jee, you think perhaps it may have something to do with music in general degrading into nothing but a mindless rehash of songs that came out 20 years or more ago and warped into mindnumbingly repetitive sounds of woops and "hollas"? I can find more musical talent in the hands of doped up chimps with baby toy instruments than from these people.]]>Dec 12th 2006 12:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/Dec 12th 2006 12:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/
]]>Dec 12th 2006 12:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/Dec 12th 2006 12:33PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/Dec 12th 2006 2:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/

I mean, I haven't even ILLEGALLY downloaded anything in a long while.]]>Dec 12th 2006 2:17PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/
I am glad to see the crooked music industry finally die - Microsoft, and your "vendor locked" license thing, you're next.]]>Dec 12th 2006 12:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/Dec 12th 2006 12:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/Dec 12th 2006 12:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/Dec 12th 2006 12:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/Also backing up DRM'd music from itunes is very easy, just burn it to a data CD or DVD or copy it to another hard drive. The only time the DRM gets in the way is when you try to play it, that's when it asks you for your info. So as long as you're not giving it to your friends and truly backing it up for yourself it's not a problem.

Not saying I'm all for DRM, just trying to be helpful. ]]>Dec 12th 2006 1:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/Dec 12th 2006 12:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/Dec 12th 2006 12:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/Dec 12th 2006 1:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/Dec 12th 2006 12:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/
The record label model is dying in favor of indie labels that can find music and bands quicker, put them out for cheaper, and have wider internet distribution.

Also, recording technology has gone so far, bands that are selling in the indie scene have often already recorded an album and put it on the internet before they are signed. I know labels do promotion and front money to new bands, but do we really need multinational conglomerates to do this.

]]>Dec 12th 2006 12:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/
The DRM sucks, and is easily avoidable, I think the problem is the sound quality on the small amount of music that I do like.]]>Dec 12th 2006 12:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/
Sure, I don't like not having the option of buying the full-resolution audio (like what's on audioCD) but you're mistakenly comparing the 128K bit rate of their AAC (MP4) format with the poor sound quality of a 128K MP3 (which does sound bad).

There is a HUGE difference between a 128K MP3 and a 128K MP4... and not much (audible) difference (if any) between a 128K MP4 and a full-quality WAV/AIF. ]]>Dec 12th 2006 5:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/Dec 12th 2006 12:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/Dec 12th 2006 1:17PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/Dec 20th 2006 12:54AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/
Just a reminder, Apple earns next to zero on sales happening on iTMS (about 9 cent every track, and most goes to cover distribution expenses).]]>Dec 12th 2006 12:55PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/Radio out
Walkman in

Now:
Music out
Video in]]>Dec 12th 2006 12:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/
Music in general is messed up, already mentioned DRM, but the price for a CD is too expensive. $15 for some music? That's too much for something that is something you can't even physically touch..

My fix: Get rid of DRM and lower CD prices to $10.]]>Dec 12th 2006 12:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/Dec 12th 2006 1:00PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/Dec 12th 2006 1:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/
this is me. i buy new music regularly (cd's), but 99% is from small independent labels.]]>Dec 12th 2006 6:35PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/
I think the reason is complicated: crappy mainstream music pushed by the major labels; lack of a DRM standard and the resulting difficulty of use; very expensive CD's; sharing; eBay where you can buy a used CD for a fraction of the cost; Russian sites; and the RIAA attacking it's customer base.

The RIAA and the labels had a chance to adopt a new model and instead have chosen to kill themselves slowly by protecting the old technology/business model. They are reaping what they have sewn.]]>Dec 12th 2006 1:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/Dec 12th 2006 1:48PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/Dec 12th 2006 1:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/Dec 12th 2006 1:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/
]]>Dec 12th 2006 1:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/Heres' the break down I heard cannot confirm..
song sale 99¢
iTMS 29¢ - network , advertising etc they are not making money
Band/Artist 06¢ - the writer artist etc gets..elw you know
Record Co 64¢ - who's getting Fat and ripping us off...hmm....the get the lions share for NO work ]]>Dec 12th 2006 1:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/
With the XBox 360, Wii, and PS3 all out, how many people are still going to the movies several times a month or downloading off iTunes? Honestly, I'd rather be HD gaming.]]>Dec 12th 2006 1:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/Dec 12th 2006 5:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/Dec 12th 2006 1:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/Dec 12th 2006 1:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/personally the ONLY cd i bought this year was from Depeche Mode. ]]>Dec 12th 2006 1:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/
I bought my daughter an Ipod and she never uses it. She uses my wifes old 10gb Archos because she can move files from her Laptop>PC>Archos at will without having to go download some sketchy home brew software just to rip out the DRM so she CAN put it on another device.

Ease of use is the key and "DRM and ease of use" can;t exist in the same sentence.]]>Dec 12th 2006 1:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/Dec 12th 2006 1:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/
Stop suing your best customers dumbasses!]]>Dec 12th 2006 1:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/Dec 12th 2006 2:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/12/itunes-sales-collapsing-blanket-licensing-to-succeed/
That said, I think that even savvy users at first ignored the DRM from iTunes because it was new, cool, and worked with their shiny new iPods.

Now the DRM is a gripe even less sophisticated users are keenly aware of, and users are dropping DRM-laced music in droves.

I no longer purchase iTunes music instead relying on eMusic, insound, and amazon for all of my music needs. The only real compromise I'm making for the cause is if I just want one song and eMusic doesn't have it, I have to buy the whole thing on cd.]]>Dec 12th 2006 2:07PM