Jobs wants DRM-free online music shake-up

Author: Tim Smalley
Published: 7th February 2007
Comments (28) Stumble
Jobs has called on Universal Music, EMI, Sony BMG and Warner Music to begin selling online music without DRM.

Jobs has called on Universal Music, EMI, Sony BMG and Warner Music to begin selling online music without DRM.

Apple's head honcho, Steve Jobs, has called on the major players in the recording industry to begin selling music online without DRM.

Jobs claimed that DRM had failed to tackle the problem of piracy and the abolition of it would be good for both the consumers and the music suppliers.

Apple has had a stranglehold on the digital music market with thanks to iPod and the iTunes music store, both of which currently use DRM to protect content.

The company has come under increasing pressure to allow competing music players to use iTunes and has even come under attack from consumer rights groups in several European countries because of the incompatibilities.

"In such a world, any player can play music purchased from any store, and any store can sell music which is playable on all players. This is clearly the best alternative for consumers, and Apple would embrace it in a heartbeat," said Jobs in a statement.

Jobs highlighted the fact that music companies already sell almost 90% of their music DRM-free on CDs. He also pointed out that there is no sign of this behaviour changing, because the majority of CD players don't support DRM. Ultimately, CD sales are what the recording industry relies on for most of its revenue.

Discuss in the forums
Quote DougEdey 7th February 2007, 09:24
Go Steve! Saw this on the news this morning and had a double take!
Quote alastor 7th February 2007, 09:27
Quote:
Originally Posted by DougEdey
Go Steve! Saw this on the news this morning and had a double take!
Same here, had to listen carefully to the radio when I woke up.

The 'Discuss in the forums' link just takes you to the forums and not this thread, is that intentional?
Quote DougEdey 7th February 2007, 09:28
It#ll be updated as soon as the boys get round to it.
Quote rupbert 7th February 2007, 09:36
Quote:
Originally Posted by DougEdey
It#ll be updated as soon as the boys get round to it.


Sacked!

:D
Quote Tim S 7th February 2007, 10:10
sorry, I was driving to the office :p
Quote Lazlow 7th February 2007, 10:36
I heard this too on Radio1 and was pleased that it is getting the publicity it needs. The idea of iTunes being compatible with all MP3 players and mobiles is great too.
Quote <A88> 7th February 2007, 10:56
I'm not quite sure how Apple will cope with their propietary music ecosystem being split up to be honest...once people realise they can use their beloved iTunes (which I can't say I've have the best experiences with) alongside other MP3 players the iPod might suffer at the hands of more able competitors. Having said that, I think it's a good gesture and Steve's certainly got the right idea :).

*washes mouth out with soapy water for agreeing with Steve Jobs*.

<A88>
Quote dullonien 7th February 2007, 11:37
I heard this on radio 1 also. I don't understand why Steve Jobs was pleading to the record industries, did they force Apple to put drm on their iTunes music store content, or stop people using anything but iTunes with their iPod?

It's all good news though, with the power Apple has on the digital music industry, this should spell the end for drm within this sector. Now just for the film industry..............
Quote rupbert 7th February 2007, 11:48
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tim S
sorry, I was driving to the office :p

Sacked for being late! :D
Quote riggs 7th February 2007, 12:33
DRM is one of the reasons I don't use iTunes (that, and the fact I refuse to buy into the iPod phenomenon). If they get rid of DRM, I'd be able to use my phone to play iTunes content - pretty sweet.

However, pricing is still an issue imo...if I’m buying a load of 0’s and 1’s that don’t come with physical media/packaging/artwork (etc), I want a decent amount knocked off, not just a few dollars.
Quote Nova 7th February 2007, 13:25
apple made a good product (the ipod) and made a piece of support software for it (itunes) if you dont want to use the two together, thats fine. just dont buy an ipod or use itunes. wait for someone else to make an mp3 player you like more. i think its crap that apple should be required to let other players use itunes, or make the ipod work with other software. besides theres also some shady software out there to do waht you wish.
Quote DougEdey 7th February 2007, 13:33
There's no need to apart from financial sense, Apple know that they aren't going to be able to get everyone to buy an iPod but iTunes is a very VERY good piece of kit, I'd use it if I didn't have a Zen.
Quote quack 7th February 2007, 13:49
This story is HUGE. Let's just hope Steve follows through. Come on, put your money where your mouth is!
Quote TomH 7th February 2007, 13:54
Well thank **** for that! At last a key player in the industry has the balls to stand up to the record companies. Go Steve go, indeed!

Take note Mr. Gates, you're behind again.
Quote DXR_13KE 7th February 2007, 14:32
Mr. Gates should imitate this man!!!! go Gates go!!!!
Quote airchie 7th February 2007, 14:51
I'm dreaming of a world where Apple gets the ball rolling and suddenly everyone can buy their music online for a decent price and play it wherever they like.
Then so that they don't get outdone, M$ scrap DRM in Vista and concentrate all the resources they spent on developing pointless DRM etc into making the OS more secure and reliable.

Shame its just dreams but I can still live in hope... :)
Quote Tyinsar 7th February 2007, 15:33
Until Apple drops DRM this is all just rhetoric, But I do like the sound of it.
Quote randosome 7th February 2007, 15:47
he fails to mention that so far DRM has been completly pointless anyway seeing as (as far as i know) every DRM scheme has been cracked anyway so their just wasting money trying
Quote Tyinsar 7th February 2007, 15:53
I'd like to see DRM go away but -

As long as we feel the need for locks on our cars, homes, and businesses the music & movie companies will feel the need for locks on their business.
Quote eddtox 7th February 2007, 16:18
Wow.. this is really surprising. The only reason I don't own buy music only is DRM. If they stop using DRM I might actually buy an iPod :D:D

-ed out
Quote rupbert 7th February 2007, 17:39
Now if Bill Gates had launched the Zune without DRM, it could well have been an iPod killer...
Quote GiGo 7th February 2007, 18:26
I might start buying music if they get rid of DRM, but then agian why change a habit of a life time :p

I hate Ipods, well not Ipods but the way everyone talks about Ipods being the ONLY mp3 player, ive said it before on this forum, Creative to me is one of the best, if only they had marketed theres better!

I own a Creative DAP 20GB Jukebox, 6years old still going strong! Average use is 50hrs a week, come on ipod I challenge you to last that long! Surprisingly enough, never had to change the power adapter or HDD inside, the only thing I've done is paint the thing!

Lets stamp out DRM!!!!!! It is pointless!
Quote TomH 7th February 2007, 21:18
Well, I feel stupid.

http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=37492

/holds up hand and looks sheepish. :(
Quote rupbert 7th February 2007, 21:32
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom Hill
Well, I feel stupid.

http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=37492

/holds up hand and looks sheepish. :(

Some good points.
Quote Tyinsar 7th February 2007, 23:41
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom Hill
Well, I feel stupid.

http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=37492

/holds up hand and looks sheepish. :(
Good Find ;)
Quote speedfreek 7th February 2007, 23:44
Quote:
Originally Posted by GiGo
I might start buying music if they get rid of DRM, but then agian why change a habit of a life time :p

I hate Ipods, well not Ipods but the way everyone talks about Ipods being the ONLY mp3 player, ive said it before on this forum, Creative to me is one of the best, if only they had marketed theres better!
Yep, but I find ipods too ugly to buy. Creative players seem more damage resistant to me, but a mini sd card and my phone is all I need now.

If I could do whatever I wanted with my mp3s that I paid for then I wouldnt have too much to complain about, but I wont pay for DRM.
Quote Constructacon 8th February 2007, 07:27
Does anyone else feel that this might be slightly inspired by the fact that half the EU is now pushing for an open standard on the iPod? By making this call, Jobs is making Big Music Businesses out to the baddies for propegating his monopoly in the music download arena.

However - I'm 110% behind the idea of DRM free music. If I buy something - that's it. It's mine to use where and on what device I want.
Quote Tyinsar 8th February 2007, 17:20
That's part of what the article Tom Hill linked said, so, yeah.
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