Well, they’ve done it. Apple has finally started selling MP3s through the iTunes Music Store (ITMS). However, they’ve driven me back to plastic CDs in the process, and they may have driven-up music piracy as well.
I just downloaded Darlene Zschech‘s excellent rendition of Agnus Dei from ITMS. I originally heard it on Pandora for iPhone. (If you don’t know what Pandora is, it’s an excellent Internet radio site.). Darlene Zschech has earned a reputation as one of the best worship leaders in the world, and this song is a wonderful example of her talent.
The Problem
So imagine my disappointment when I get to the peak of the song, worshipping right along with her, only to hear a familiar static crackle erupt in the background of the song. “Fingerprinting”, “watermarking”, or whatever you may call it, it’s still DRM, MP3-style. Just like Amazon has done with many of their MP3s.
Now, I’m no audiophile. (Carrie will gladly tell you how good my hearing is.) So this is not something the average listener is likely to miss. It certainly interrupted my enjoyment of the song, and left me wondering when I could get to a store to buy the CD.
What?
When I bought an MP3 from Amazon and found watermarking throughout the track, I forgave them the offense. I figured they had a lot of PR money riding on being the first-to-market with legal MP3 downloads. (I forgave them, but I haven’t been back. Watermarking is why.)
But Apple is known for higher-quality stuff. They have always priced their products above the competition, and have earned their keep (under Steve Jobs’ leadership) with consistently industry-leading design and customer support. I’m guessing I won’t be the only customer who feels their investment in Apple just lost some value. And with the Palm Pre just around the corner, the “fall” of ITMS forces the iPhone to stand on its own, making the Pre look that much more attractive as an upgrade.
The End Game
So where does this leave us?
Apple
In my mind, Apple is risking the monopolistic tie between the iPhone and the iTunes Music Store. If their target audience – the buyer looking for higher-quality goods – stops buying music in ITMS, there’s nothing to prevent them from switching to another phone platform like the Palm Pre or Google’s Android. Since Apple has been getting bad press lately for behavior reminiscent of Microsoft’s Bill Gates era, I hope this means they’ve got a different plan for keeping customers.
The Labels Win
I believe Apple made the switch to MP3s due to market pressure. Steve Jobs has always given lip-service to eliminating DRM, to keep the Apple faithful…well, faithful. With Amazon’s service apparently doing well, they must have felt the time was right to sign-up for MP3 offerings from iTunes. Amazon probably wasn’t too hesitant about watermarking their MP3s as long as they got to be the first to offer them.
But Apple’s acceptance of the same terms signals to me that the two best chances we had to put DRM to rest are gone, and that the labels have finally won. The labels tried everything they could – suing ISPs who allowed music to be downloaded through their network, polluting the pool of trafficked files with corrupted or watermarked versions, and even suing their own customers in an attempt to stop the slow march of progress. But now, with the cooperation of both Amazon and Apple, the labels have managed to destroy the quality of purchased downloads from the two biggest legal sources online.
In other words, the labels have won. High-quality music can no longer be downloaded legally.
The Customers Lose
Sadly, I will go back to buying CDs. With the labels’ victory, ripping purchased CDs becomes (again) the only way I can hear the music on my iPhone as the artist intended it to be heard.
Tags: pop culture, technology
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