Late last year I received an offer to present my paper 'The Evolution of Culture: Is Political Music Still Being Heard?' at the International Association for the Study of Popular Music's biennial conference in Liverpool in July this year.
I submitted an abstract of my paper to Carlo Nardi, the convenor of the conference theme relating to Popular Music and Technology in a Historical Context. This section of the conference will consider the 'technological impacts upon popular music practices, including questions from cultural, aesthetic, ideological, economic, sociological, historical, legal or musicological perspectives'.
This is an exciting opportunity and I am delighted to be attending the conference. There is not much information about the conference on their website at the moment but that should change very soon so take a look if you are interested: IASPM International Conference. You can read about the other conference themes here.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Tenenbaum
The RecordingIndsutryvThePeople Blog is reporting that oral argument in the Tenenbaum case will be narrowcast and streamable from the Berkman Centre's website on the 22 January 2009. A website has also been set up which enables people to keep in touch with developments in the case.
More Information:
RecordingIndustryvThePeopleBlog, January 22nd oral arguments in SONY BMG Music v. Tenenbaum will be televised over the internet (14 January 2009) <http://recordingindustryvspeople.blogspot.com/2009_01_01_archive.html#3145693789782359556> at 15 January 2009
Joel Fights Back <http://joelfightsback.com/> at 15 January 2009
More Information:
RecordingIndustryvThePeopleBlog, January 22nd oral arguments in SONY BMG Music v. Tenenbaum will be televised over the internet (14 January 2009) <http://recordingindustryvspeople.blogspot.com/2009_01_01_archive.html#3145693789782359556> at 15 January 2009
Joel Fights Back <http://joelfightsback.com/> at 15 January 2009
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
A Lessig Trilogy
Three great clips that have been posted on the net in recent times featuring Lawrence Lessig:
His last and latest presentation on Remix:
http://www.lessig.org/blog/2008/12/wow_peace_declared.html
Lessig on the Colbert Report:
http://www.lessig.org/blog/2009/01/let_the_remixes_begin.html
Lessig@Harvard on Creative Commons:
http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/events/2008/12/creativecommons
His last and latest presentation on Remix:
http://www.lessig.org/blog/2008/12/wow_peace_declared.html
Lessig on the Colbert Report:
http://www.lessig.org/blog/2009/01/let_the_remixes_begin.html
Lessig@Harvard on Creative Commons:
http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/events/2008/12/creativecommons
Thursday, January 8, 2009
DRM Dies Another Death
Finally Apple has announced that it will ditch DRM on all digital music sales. Effective immediately for the majority of tracks sold in the United States, songs can be downloaded in the unprotected AAC format. This is a significant development albeit fairly predictable given that other digital music stores such as Amazon, WalMart, Napster and Yahoo are already selling unprotected tracks.
Digital Rights Management, code added to a track which prevents users from burning unlimited CDs, required authorisation for playing songs on computers other than the one on which the track was purchased, created compatibility problems with mp3 players and essentially did more harm than good in getting people to transition from file sharing to legitimate music purchases, will be missed by no-one.
The shift is not without consequences however with variable pricing also being introduced to the iTunes store. There is likely to be some price increase with new songs available for $1.29 each rather than the flat $0.99 cent rate. Older tracks will now cost less, however it appears this was used as a trade off by the record labels to ensure an increase in profits.
For existing customers paying an additional $0.30 will enable them to replace songs they have already purchased with unprotected versions. In my opinion this is not only too expensive but really rather rude – DRM protected songs should never have been sold in the first place and should be replaced free of charge. When Yahoo removed protection from its catalogue existing customers were given vouchers to compensate for the transition to the unprotected format.
Questions remain as to whether DRM will be removed in other countries as well. In Australia, at the moment, the only major digital music store without DRM is eMusic which does not sell any tracks from major label artists. Amazon remains unavailable to Australian customers and a quick check of the iTunes Australia store this morning did not reveal any changes. As with most things digital and legal Australia may have to wait some time before it has its chance to enjoy music without these constraints.
Further Reading
Wall Street Journal, Apple Changes Tune on Music Pricing (7 January 2009) <http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123126062001057765.html> at 8 January 2009
Digital Music News, Finally: iTunes Store Goes DRM-Free, 99-Cents Going Variable (7 January 2009) <http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/stories/010509apple> at 8 January 2009
TechDirt, As Rumored, Apple Gives Record Labels Variable iTunes Pricing In Exchange For Ditching DRM (6 January 2009) <http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20090106/1039003297.shtml> at 7 January 2009
ArsTechnica, Apple, labels both win with DRM-free iTunes, tiered pricing (6 January 2009) <http://arstechnica.com/journals/apple.ars/2009/01/06/apple-labels-both-win-with-drm-free-itunes-tiered-pricing> at 7 January 2009
ZeroPaid, iTunes Going DRM-Free (6 January 2009) <http://www.zeropaid.com/news/9945/iTunes+Going+DRM-Free> at 7 January 2009
The Register, DRM now dead, as Amazon snags Sony (11 January 20080 <http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01/11/amazon_sony_music_drm_now_dead/> at 20 January 2008
Digital Music News, Warner Music Ditches DRM on Amazon, Stock Struggles Above $6 (28 December 2007) <http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/stories/122807warner> at 11 January 2007
Digital Music News, It's Official: Sony BMG Delivers MP3s to Amazon (10 January 2008) <http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/stories/011008sony> at 20 January 2008
ArsTechnica, Wal-Mart joins MSN and Yahoo, leaves DRM servers online (10 October 2008) <http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20081010-wal-mart-joins-msn-and-yahoo-leaves-drm-key-servers-online.html> at 12 October 2008
TechDirt, Surprise, Surprise: WalMart Changes Its Mind, Keeps DRM Servers Running (For Now) (10 October 2008) <http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20081010/0020522511.shtml> at 12 October 2008
EFF Deeplinks, And Walmart Makes Three: Another Music Service Plans to Shut Down DRM Support (28 September 2008) <http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/09/and-walmart-makes-three-another-music-service-plan> at 5 October 2008
Digital Music News, Wal-Mart Moves On; Ditches Support on DRM Downloads (30 September 2008) <http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/stories/092908walmart> at 5 October 2008
TechDirt, Wal-Mart Ditches DRM... And Lots Of Major Label Music With It (8 April 2008) <http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20080408/003857784.shtml> at 13 April 2008
Digital Music News, Wal-Mart Reaffirms Commitment to MP3s; Standoff Continues (7 April 2008) <http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/stories/040608walmart> at 8 April 2008
Digital Music News, Yahoo Music Makes Good; Offers DRM-Free Replacements, Refunds (31 July 2008) <http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/stories/073008yahoo> at 7 August 2008
SiliconValley/Associated Press, Yahoo offers coupons for songs that stop working when it shuts download service (30 July 2008) <http://www.siliconvalley.com/news/ci_10044573?nclick_check=1> at 6 August 2008
TechDirt, Yahoo Offers Refunds Or DRM-Free Music In Exchange For Shutting Down DRM Servers (29 July 2008) <http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20080728/1455551813.shtml> at 31 July 2008
CNet News, EFF: Yahoo Music should compensate customers (24 July 2008) <http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-9999244-93.html> at 28 July 2008
EFF Deeplinks, Here We Go Again: Yahoo! Music Throws Away the DRM Keys (24 July 2008) <http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/07/here-we-go-again-yahoo-music-throws-away-drm-keys> at 28 July 2008
Digital Music News, About Those Yahoo Music Unlimited Downloads You Bought... (25 July 2008) <http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/stories/072408yahoo> at 28 July 2008
TechDirt, Did Yahoo Not Pay Attention To What Happened When Microsoft Pulled The Plug On Its DRM Server? (24 July 2008) <http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20080724/0341381775.shtml> at 28 July 2008
ArsTechnica, DRM still sucks: Yahoo Music going dark, taking keys with it (24 July 2008) <http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080724-drm-still-sucks-yahoo-music-going-dark-taking-keys-with-it.html> at 25 July 2008
ZeroPaid, Rhapsody Opens DRM Free Music Store (1 July 2008) <http://www.zeropaid.com/news/9599/Rhapsody+Opens+DRM-Free+Music+Store> at 4 July 2008
TechDirt, Microsoft Keeps DRM Servers Alive For Now; Won't Screw Over Own Customers For A Few More Years (19 June 2008) <http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20080619/0907281455.shtml> at 26 June 2008
Digital Music News, Microsoft: We'll Support Your Downloads After All (17 June 2008) <http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/stories/061808msft> at 20 June 2008
ArsTechnica, DRM sucks redux: Microsoft to nuke MSN Music DRM keys (22 April 2008) <http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080422-drm-sucks-redux-microsoft-to-nuke-msn-music-drm-keys.html> at 27 April 2008
Digital Music News, MSN Music: The DRM Aftertaste Really Lasts... (24 April 2008) <http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/stories/042308msn> at 26 April 2008
Digital Music News, Microsoft's Final 'Up Yours' To Those Who Bought Into Its DRM Story (23 April 2008) <http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20080422/234401923.shtml> at 26 April 2008
ZeroPaid, Napster Comes Full Circle, Launches DRM-Free mp3 Store (22 May 2008) <http://www.zeropaid.com/news/9509/Napster+Comes+Full+Circle%2C+Launches+DRM-Free+MP3+Store> at 5 June 2008
Digital Music News, Napster Gets It Done: MP3s For Everyone (19 May 2008) <http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/stories/052008napster> at 21 May 2008
Billboard.biz, Napster Goes DRM-Free (20 May 2008) <http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/e3i9189f73c48e7dd51669d4bee4dc1d1b1> at 21 May 2008
TechDirt, Collapse of Music DRM Continues; DRM Customers Still Screwed (20 May 2008) <http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20080520/0551131178.shtml> at 21 May 2008
Technologizer, 25 Arguments for the Elimination of Copy Protection (13 October 2008) <http://technologizer.com/2008/10/13/copy-protection/> at 20 October 2008
Digital Rights Management, code added to a track which prevents users from burning unlimited CDs, required authorisation for playing songs on computers other than the one on which the track was purchased, created compatibility problems with mp3 players and essentially did more harm than good in getting people to transition from file sharing to legitimate music purchases, will be missed by no-one.
The shift is not without consequences however with variable pricing also being introduced to the iTunes store. There is likely to be some price increase with new songs available for $1.29 each rather than the flat $0.99 cent rate. Older tracks will now cost less, however it appears this was used as a trade off by the record labels to ensure an increase in profits.
For existing customers paying an additional $0.30 will enable them to replace songs they have already purchased with unprotected versions. In my opinion this is not only too expensive but really rather rude – DRM protected songs should never have been sold in the first place and should be replaced free of charge. When Yahoo removed protection from its catalogue existing customers were given vouchers to compensate for the transition to the unprotected format.
Questions remain as to whether DRM will be removed in other countries as well. In Australia, at the moment, the only major digital music store without DRM is eMusic which does not sell any tracks from major label artists. Amazon remains unavailable to Australian customers and a quick check of the iTunes Australia store this morning did not reveal any changes. As with most things digital and legal Australia may have to wait some time before it has its chance to enjoy music without these constraints.
Further Reading
Wall Street Journal, Apple Changes Tune on Music Pricing (7 January 2009) <http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123126062001057765.html> at 8 January 2009
Digital Music News, Finally: iTunes Store Goes DRM-Free, 99-Cents Going Variable (7 January 2009) <http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/stories/010509apple> at 8 January 2009
TechDirt, As Rumored, Apple Gives Record Labels Variable iTunes Pricing In Exchange For Ditching DRM (6 January 2009) <http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20090106/1039003297.shtml> at 7 January 2009
ArsTechnica, Apple, labels both win with DRM-free iTunes, tiered pricing (6 January 2009) <http://arstechnica.com/journals/apple.ars/2009/01/06/apple-labels-both-win-with-drm-free-itunes-tiered-pricing> at 7 January 2009
ZeroPaid, iTunes Going DRM-Free (6 January 2009) <http://www.zeropaid.com/news/9945/iTunes+Going+DRM-Free> at 7 January 2009
The Register, DRM now dead, as Amazon snags Sony (11 January 20080 <http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01/11/amazon_sony_music_drm_now_dead/> at 20 January 2008
Digital Music News, Warner Music Ditches DRM on Amazon, Stock Struggles Above $6 (28 December 2007) <http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/stories/122807warner> at 11 January 2007
Digital Music News, It's Official: Sony BMG Delivers MP3s to Amazon (10 January 2008) <http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/stories/011008sony> at 20 January 2008
ArsTechnica, Wal-Mart joins MSN and Yahoo, leaves DRM servers online (10 October 2008) <http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20081010-wal-mart-joins-msn-and-yahoo-leaves-drm-key-servers-online.html> at 12 October 2008
TechDirt, Surprise, Surprise: WalMart Changes Its Mind, Keeps DRM Servers Running (For Now) (10 October 2008) <http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20081010/0020522511.shtml> at 12 October 2008
EFF Deeplinks, And Walmart Makes Three: Another Music Service Plans to Shut Down DRM Support (28 September 2008) <http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/09/and-walmart-makes-three-another-music-service-plan> at 5 October 2008
Digital Music News, Wal-Mart Moves On; Ditches Support on DRM Downloads (30 September 2008) <http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/stories/092908walmart> at 5 October 2008
TechDirt, Wal-Mart Ditches DRM... And Lots Of Major Label Music With It (8 April 2008) <http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20080408/003857784.shtml> at 13 April 2008
Digital Music News, Wal-Mart Reaffirms Commitment to MP3s; Standoff Continues (7 April 2008) <http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/stories/040608walmart> at 8 April 2008
Digital Music News, Yahoo Music Makes Good; Offers DRM-Free Replacements, Refunds (31 July 2008) <http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/stories/073008yahoo> at 7 August 2008
SiliconValley/Associated Press, Yahoo offers coupons for songs that stop working when it shuts download service (30 July 2008) <http://www.siliconvalley.com/news/ci_10044573?nclick_check=1> at 6 August 2008
TechDirt, Yahoo Offers Refunds Or DRM-Free Music In Exchange For Shutting Down DRM Servers (29 July 2008) <http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20080728/1455551813.shtml> at 31 July 2008
CNet News, EFF: Yahoo Music should compensate customers (24 July 2008) <http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-9999244-93.html> at 28 July 2008
EFF Deeplinks, Here We Go Again: Yahoo! Music Throws Away the DRM Keys (24 July 2008) <http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/07/here-we-go-again-yahoo-music-throws-away-drm-keys> at 28 July 2008
Digital Music News, About Those Yahoo Music Unlimited Downloads You Bought... (25 July 2008) <http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/stories/072408yahoo> at 28 July 2008
TechDirt, Did Yahoo Not Pay Attention To What Happened When Microsoft Pulled The Plug On Its DRM Server? (24 July 2008) <http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20080724/0341381775.shtml> at 28 July 2008
ArsTechnica, DRM still sucks: Yahoo Music going dark, taking keys with it (24 July 2008) <http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080724-drm-still-sucks-yahoo-music-going-dark-taking-keys-with-it.html> at 25 July 2008
ZeroPaid, Rhapsody Opens DRM Free Music Store (1 July 2008) <http://www.zeropaid.com/news/9599/Rhapsody+Opens+DRM-Free+Music+Store> at 4 July 2008
TechDirt, Microsoft Keeps DRM Servers Alive For Now; Won't Screw Over Own Customers For A Few More Years (19 June 2008) <http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20080619/0907281455.shtml> at 26 June 2008
Digital Music News, Microsoft: We'll Support Your Downloads After All (17 June 2008) <http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/stories/061808msft> at 20 June 2008
ArsTechnica, DRM sucks redux: Microsoft to nuke MSN Music DRM keys (22 April 2008) <http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080422-drm-sucks-redux-microsoft-to-nuke-msn-music-drm-keys.html> at 27 April 2008
Digital Music News, MSN Music: The DRM Aftertaste Really Lasts... (24 April 2008) <http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/stories/042308msn> at 26 April 2008
Digital Music News, Microsoft's Final 'Up Yours' To Those Who Bought Into Its DRM Story (23 April 2008) <http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20080422/234401923.shtml> at 26 April 2008
ZeroPaid, Napster Comes Full Circle, Launches DRM-Free mp3 Store (22 May 2008) <http://www.zeropaid.com/news/9509/Napster+Comes+Full+Circle%2C+Launches+DRM-Free+MP3+Store> at 5 June 2008
Digital Music News, Napster Gets It Done: MP3s For Everyone (19 May 2008) <http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/stories/052008napster> at 21 May 2008
Billboard.biz, Napster Goes DRM-Free (20 May 2008) <http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/e3i9189f73c48e7dd51669d4bee4dc1d1b1> at 21 May 2008
TechDirt, Collapse of Music DRM Continues; DRM Customers Still Screwed (20 May 2008) <http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20080520/0551131178.shtml> at 21 May 2008
Technologizer, 25 Arguments for the Elimination of Copy Protection (13 October 2008) <http://technologizer.com/2008/10/13/copy-protection/> at 20 October 2008
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