Buying music online

[Potatoman]

Hi all. Just wondering... I read somewhere that if you buy music online, that artist wont get as much royalties than if you bought the physical CD from a shop. Is there any truth in this? Thanks. PM.

[fo3nix]

The artists hardly get anything at all, regardless of where you buy your music from. That's why the music industry is trying to fight music 'piracy' so much: it's hurting their wallets!

This may be of interest to you:
http://archive.salon.com/tech/feature/2000/06/ 14/love/print.html

[fo3nix]

Btw, even if you do decide to buy music online; whatever you do, don't buy anything with DRM in it. It'll hurt you in the end.

[Potatoman]

Whats DRM and why will it hurt me in the end? When i buy prtected music, cant i burn to an audio CD, then rip it back to unprotected mp3?

[fo3nix]

Yes but you'll lose quality, and sometimes you can't even do that legally. And even the original music you buy will not be CD-quality. It sounds perfectly fine on your average PC speakers, but as people connect their mp3s up to higher-end speaker systems, they'll notice the lack of quality a bit more.

DRM is digital rights management (sometimes jokingly referred to as digital restrictions management). it's an extra bit of software put onto some music and films etc. designed to prevent you from using things you've bought the way you want to. for example, music bought from the iTunes music store is DRM'd, as is most other legal music. it restricts how you are allowed to listen to your own bought music, supposedly because sharing music is hurting the artists. I thought the whole point of music was for it to be heard -- but maybe not. Either way, it's only hurting one thing: the record industry's execs' pockets.

example of how it's bad: ever heard of PlaysForSure? It's microsoft's version of DRM, on lots of legally bought music. Many mp3 players like the Creative models carry the logo, so you know you can buy that music and it'll "play for sure". also know that microsoft is releasing their own zune music player? Guess what? It's not compatible with PlaysForSure. it uses an entirely different DRM system. anyone who's previously bought PlaysForSure music will have to re-buy all their music if they want it on their zune. nobody's under any obligation to keep supporting the PlaysForSure system. If everyone just stopped making devices that play it (one day they will), your music will just stop playing. the end.

[fo3nix]

It's not great. They're now trying to add the same sort of stuff to next-gen DVD technologies: HD-DVD and bluray. DRM is a particular favourite of Sony (makers of bluray). one suggested feature that they tried to get in for example was for a film you bought to be associated with only one player: so you'd buy it, play it in your home player, and then you couldn't take it to a friend's house and watch it there. luckily I think that got rejected, but other stuff nearly as bad is getting its foot in the door.

[Potatoman]

All seems pointless - easier to by a CD from the store then you can do what you like with it! Iv heard of PlaysForSure - Sounds like the device will be 'compatible' with current music... I didnt realise they sneaked copy protection in there as well!
Im all for artists getting paid for what they do, thats fair enough. But i have a problem with record company topnobs telling me HOW and WHERE i can play it - your bluray example is just to much, surely... And they wonder why people download illegally... I really appreciate you help.

[fo3nix]

This is something I feel quite strongly about; it really annoys me.

More about the DVD and DRM stuff here:
http://writersblocklive.com/boycott/