Is The DRM Free Train Stalled Or Is This The Calm Before The Storm?
Every label we talk to seems done with negotiations. (It’s doubtful, but could Amazon possibly have grabbed them all?) And one major who we know dislikes DRM had a high level delegation at the internet giant’s offices recently looking at beta of something…
So where is the promised DRM free download store? Is there some kind of problem or is launch day finally near?
And what’s up with Steve Jobs? He goes public with a much heralded statement that all labels must set their music free and yet months later there’s not a single non-EMI related DRM free track on iTunes. We know a dozen good sized indies who would give their stuff to Apple DRM free tomorrow, but Steve doesn’t seem to really care.
And what about Naptser, Rhapsody or any of the other mainstream download stores? Since DRM free is their best chance to compete with iTunes why aren’t they making the moves that they can make today?
Whatever the reason, everyone seems leaving the tracks completely clear for Amazon. That’s if the train ever leaves the station.