At present, nearly every music download store available uses some sort of DRM and so far all these stores only support certain DRM-enabled players. For example music from iTunes works on the iPod, but not any other player, where as Napster works on WMA-DRM enabled players, but not the iPod. Real Networks did manage to support iPod DRM for a while, but with Apple aiming to block support for Real Networks, Real's service is turning out like cat & mouse for iPod DRM support.
Now the MP3.com founder Michael Robertson aims to get around this issue with MP3tunes, its recently launched music download store. As the name suggests, users who purchase music downloads get their music in the standard MP3 format, which can be played on any MP3 compatible player including the iPod as there is no worry about DRM support. As MP3 does not support DRM restrictions, customers may also burn their music to CD or transfer to their other PCs without limitations or authorisation requirements or issues.
MP3tunes charges 88c (US) a track or US$8.88 an album and delivers its music in 192kbps MP3 files, unlike 128kbps that most other online stores use. Users can also download their purchased tracks again without having to purchase them again, for example to replace accidentally deleted files or if the user wishes to listen to their music from another PC. MP3tunes library consists of 300,000 songs from over 20,000 artists, many of which are independent artists. Unfortunately they don't have any major record labels so far. T4Z submitted the following news via our news submit:
Robertson said MP3tunes is differentiated from other legitimate download services because of the control users have over their music. Other services, Robertson said, force users to "rent" music "from a big corporation that controls what software, computer and portable devices they can use." In contrast, MP3tunes music is encoded in the ubiquitous MP3 format, at a bit rate of 192Kbps. The music uses no Digital Rights Management (DRM) protection -- it's compatible with any computer platform, digital music player and home entertainment device that can play MP3 files, including iTunes and the iPod. And since there are no DRM restrictions, you can burn the files as often as you'd like to CD. What's more, MP3tunes music is saved in a "Music Locker" after you purchase it -- so if your computer crashes, your hard disk is wiped out, or you switch machines, you can access your past purchases without having to buy them again. Read the full article here. |
The only drawback I can see is that the lack of major labels may put some users off this service, but for those who are simply fed up with what is being played on the radio these days, this service may provide an ideal alternative where the artist's work is not biased towards what the major record labels want.
As this service has over 20,000 artists allowing their music to be provided in the DRM-free MP3 format, it clearly shows that it is mainly the music industry with the major labels that are worried about piracy, while most artists are interested in getting recognition and satisfying what the listener wants rather than treat all their listeners as pirates.
T4Z added: Hope this is successful. Not only do you save some compared to itunes but you can re-download you purchased music any time.
Feel free to discuss and find out more about online music stores on our Music Downloads, Peer-to-Peer (P2P) & Legal Issues Forum.
Source: MacCentral
