Ars Technica has published an interesting article on the current effects and future of DRM (Digital Rights Managment).

Here’s the most interesting bit:

“Musicload (one of Europe’s larget online music retailers) said that artists choosing to drop DRM saw a 40 percent increase in sales since December, and that more artists and labels are showing interest.”

Read the whole Ars Technica article on DRM here.

This isn’t surprising to me.  I have never bought DRM-protected music.  I still prefer to buy the CD and rip it.  (And for those who care, I rip it to FLAC, an open source lossless codec.)

To me, DRM has always meant hassle for the consumer.  Will you still have your iTunes music available to you in 10, 20, or 30 years having switched computers and devices again and again?  It’s not the same as having a physical record or CD collection.  There is some uncertainty about the longevity of your DRM-protected music because Apple or Microsoft or BigMusicCompany holds the key to their proprietary system.

That’s why my music is in FLAC format--it’s open source, so I know that no one down the road can prevent me from listening to it.

DRM does not help to enforce copy protection because the folks who really want to break that protection can do so easily.  In fact, if the tide continues to turn toward non-DRM music, I could see Apple and others releasing utilities to clean the DRM from your existing music library.  I’m not holding my breath for it, but it could happen.

Curtis,
I really think the tide will continue to turn toward non-DRM. I truly hope it does. I agree completely with you that the only people that DRM affects adversely are honest people. Those who want to bypass it can do it ridiculously easily...so what’s the point?

I think DRM is really a detrimental distraction for the music industry. Instead of focusing on what will move them forward and into the flow of the future of music, they’re spending valuable time and money on something that is ineffective.

You can get unprotected, unrestricted music by EMI group through Apples Itunes store. Or atleast you will in May.

What do you think about that?
Happening sooner than you think?

Actually, there’s a caveat with the EMI/Apple deal.  If you want to buy a single, you can buy the song sans-DRM at a premium price.  For albums, you can choose to download the whole album with or without DRM for the same price (tough choice, there).  So, EMI is still trying to control a bit through iTunes biggest market, single downloads, by making the non-DRM more expensive.

There had to be a caveat in there somewhere. Will see how the consumer chooses and see what that will do to the market and what the other big players will do to counter this.

With all the stealing of songs and albums from copyrighted material I wonder if this will matter much or if this will make that happen less now per what DRM was having people do.

Actually, on further review, the higher price purchase single is also higher quality.  So, you do get more for your money, if you care for the difference.

I love the EMI/Apple deal. I’m just glad to see a label breaking the barrier and I think the other labels will certainly follow suit.

I don’t think it’s really happening sooner than I thought. Most of the music sites I’ve read have been saying that 2007 is the year of the death of drm. I’m glad to see that coming true.

I for one would happily pay and extra .30 for drm free music that is also a higher quality.