Another story from TechCrunch:
Streaming music service Rhapsody has joined the likes of Wal-Mart, Amazon, and Napster by launching an MP3 store.
Its move to offer unprotected music downloads has been anticipated since last Fall when Real Networks joined forces with MTV and Verizon. The Rhapsody MP3 Store offers music from all four major labels (Universal Music Group, Sony BMG, Warner Music Group, and EMI) at 99 cents per single and mostly $9.99 per single disc album. Only Windows is supported at launch, with Mac support coming later.
While Rhapsody specializes in streaming music to paying subscribers ($13 per month gives you on-demand access to its entire music collection), this is not the first time Rhapsody has offered downloads in addition. Most of its downloads have been protected by RAX-formatted DRM, although lately MP3 files have been mixed into its collection as well.
But with the launch of its MP3 store, Rhapsody fully endorses the idea that DRM is dead. And it goes toe-to-toe with the aforementioned DRM-free music stores, as well as iTunes Plus (whose files are actually in AAC format, not MP3), by providing over 5 million tracks that can play on virtually any music player without any restrictions.
The Rhapsody MP3 Store sits to the side of the regular Rhapsody streaming music service on its own subdomain, but the two are also integrated with one another. Shoppers on the MP3 store site who are also paying subscribers can play full-length samples (non-subscribers can also play up to 25 full length samples per month). And subscribers have the option of buying and downloading the files they’ve enjoyed streaming but want to play when not at their computers (or connected to the internet).
The purchase experience is mostly browser-based; however, Rhapsody also provides a download manager that can automatically load songs into iTunes. All songs will be provided with a 256 bit rate.
Rhapsody is also working over the next couple of months to integrate its streaming and downloading functionality into Viacom’s network of music sites, including MTV, VH1, and CMT. It has also teamed up with iLike to power music across all of its social networking applications and main website. Expect similar functionality to what you already see on MOG.
Similarly, it is putting the finishing touches on its powering of Yahoo Music, which should go live soon. With all of these partnerships, Rhapsody is working to become not only be a destination but a platform for music distribution.
Streaming music may be the way of the future, especially when reliable and fast wireless technology becomes ubiquitous, but the launch of Rhapsody’s MP3 store shows that consumers still want to own their music - and control when and where they can use it.
Also see round up of DRM-free music providers from last fall, which includes some of the more indie-focused services like Amie Street.
It’s been a long time coming, but I think the music industry is finally getting the message that DRM does NOT work. Slapping DRM (Digital Rights Management) on music files actually does next-to-nothing to prevent piracy. The only thing it does, and it does this really well, is cause headaches and untold inconvenience for legitimate purchasers of music. Depending on the device you are using, you are tied to specific music outlets for music. If you have an iPod, you get music from iTunes, unless you wanted to obtain MP3 files illegally or only listen to self-produced indie music. Personally, I enjoy independent artists a lot, but I also have a lot of favorite mainstream bands that I want to listen to. The problem is, if I happen to have an iRiver, a Zune and an iPod, I would have to buy music from three different places for the three different devices, or obtain it illegally. How is this good for either the artists, the labels or the consumer? It’s not, even remotely. As I’ve said before, it would be like Sony releasing CDs that would only play in Sony CD players. A (smart) consumer would likely avoid purchasing a proprietary format, opting instead for a burned copy of the same CD that he can play in all his CD players with no problem. It’s not about sharing, it’s about portability and cross-platform and multi-device usability, people!!!
DRM has never done anything to stop or slow down the flow of illegally obtained copyrighted works, so in my opinion, it deserves to die, and to suffer while doing so.
I’ve never been a fan of Real Networks, given that every media program I’ve tried of theirs has pretty much been bloat-ware in the extreme. However, I do applaud them for their efforts in pushing the MP3 as the best consumer-friendly music format, and hope to see even bigger and better things from them in the future!
There’s plenty you can do to help the fight against DRM and the broken system that is know as today’s music industry. Click below for more information on Defective By Design and their anti-DRM campaigns:
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