EMI wants payment to drop DRM
p2pnet.net news:- EMI has apparently changed its mind about dropping its DRM (Digital Restrictions Management) consumer control.
It and “online music sellers” including Bill and the Boyz, can’t agree on the size of an advance payment, according to Bloomberg News.
In case you’re you’re wondering what advance payment – “EMI, the third-largest music company, demanded an upfront payment to compensate for its risk in releasing the music without software that prevents copying, the sources said,” the story goes on.
“The retailers countered with a lower offer, which EMI rejected, and negotiations are now on hold, they said.”
Inluded in the talks were Microsoft, Apple, RealNetworks, Yahoo! and Amazon.com, “and a deal with some of them seemed close two weeks ago, the people said,” according to the story, continuing:
“CD sales slid last year, giving the idea traction as record companies look to reverse their fortunes. An announcement with EMI had been planned for as early as Feb. 9, one of the people said.”
Talks have been “further complicated” by Warner Music’s efforts to buy EMI with Warner boss Edgar Bronfman against offerings unencumbered by DRM.
“The upfront payment demanded by EMI would come on top of the per-song charge that retailers pay, said the people, who asked to be anonymous because the offer is confidential,” states Bloomberg.
Also See:
dropping – EMI still pondering DRM, February 9, 2007
DRM – Drop DRM, boost sales, say execs, February 15, 2007
Bloomberg News – EMI reportedly ends online music-seller talks, February 24, 2007
buy EMI – Warner Music wants to buy EMI, February 21, 2007
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Tired of being treated like a criminal? They depend on you, not the other way around. Don’t buy their ‘product’. Do bug your local politicians. Use emails, snail-mail, phone calls, faxes, IM, stop them in the street, blog. And if you’re into organizing, organize petitions, organize demonstrations and then turn up on your local political rep’s doorstep, making sure you’ve contacted your local tv/radio station/newspaper in advance. Don’t just complain. Do something!
February 26th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
Imagine if all major retailers dropped major record labels unless they remove all DRM. I think it is the retailers who have the upper hand and should continue to fight for what WE, the people who pay all of them, want.
February 26th, 2007 at 6:03 pm
There’s a simple answer to this that doesn’t require buy-in or participation by either the cartels or who sells it. You don’t buy it because it isn’t worth a plug nickel. That is why cd sales are dropping. No one but no one wants DRM.
The other thing the cartels don’t want to hear is that digital sales aren’t as valuable as physical discs. They don’t have the quality nor range at 128 bit rate. Even raising the bit rate won’t change that your hard-drive failing, malware, computer breakdown, or any range of problems will mean you no longer have the music you purchased. That makes it far less durable and not worth the price unless it is extremely low.
We already know what the cartels’ answer to that is. They’ve been playing that game ever since the days of the vinyl record. Raising the price because they don’t have to pay more for non-DRM? lol. Go ahead dinosaurs. I heard some rumor about skies falling.
February 27th, 2007 at 12:43 pm
ALL DRMed “product” the idea of retailers boycotting is GREAT. But you are correct in that it is ultimately up to the consumer to take on this task. …AND to TELL the **AAs we are doing it! This way they can’t “confuse” low sales due to boycott with “pirating”. If one boycotts, then spend the time, paper and postage to tell them. With a diluge of snail-mail telling them that that paper COULD be M-O-N-E-Y how can they possibly NOT get the ‘clue’? Let’s pile their mailboxes so full of paper they have no choice!!!!!!!!!!!!!