The New Rhapsody
Now that Rhapsody is offering 256Kbps MP3 downloads for prices comparable to iTunes without the DRM, most of what I’m reading is “Why would anybody buy from iTunes?” And to be fair, aside from a nicely streamlined purchase process into my iPod and possible exclusivity on some material, I can definitely see their side of the argument. I’m getting just as much from eMusic these days as iTunes (if not more) at a better price than iTunes or Rhapsody. I’m not running into the DRM limitations that so many seem to be railing against, but this is likely to change now that I’m going to be streaming material to the new XBox 360.
Thus, it sounds like it’s a good time for iTunes to throw open the vaults - I’d prefer to get tracks in AAC format due to the improved codec (bump it higher, though, please), and DRM (although, again, I’ve never hit the wall on this once) needs to go away. Wonder how long it’ll take?
July 1st, 2008 at 4:34 pm
Funny, it wasn’t that long ago that everyone was hailing Steve Jobs as this great anti-DRM crusader. I was skeptical then and, I gotta tell you, as time goes on, it begins to look more and more like Apple is the one hanging on to the DRM, not the major labels. Rhapsody joins Amazon, Napster and fucking Wal-Mart in offering DRM free music. Has Apple added any new labels since the first flush?
July 1st, 2008 at 9:02 pm
He’s certainly going to have to make a grand gesture to keep up - otherwise, it does ring hollow.
July 3rd, 2008 at 2:46 pm
Yeah, I wonder what the hold up is. Are the labels just snubbing iTunes in the DRM-free dept? It doesn’t seem likely, since they ARE the biggest music retails (or #2 now? can’t remember).
I’m baffled. I hope something gives soon, because I really do love iTunes as a music library and a store.
July 3rd, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Given Jobs’ past interactions with label heads, the snub is a distinct possibility. There could be other unspecified legal matters, too. Still, these things need to go away and go away soon.