record labels

Wal-Mart's online store has undergone a major redesign that makes its massive catalogue of songs entirely DRM-free. Digital rights management (DRM) is a term used to identify restrictions placed on digital media to prevent piracy. Wal-Mart's online ... store had previously made use of the Windows Media DRM, limiting the playback of songs to devices sanctioned by Microsoft. However, the growing popularity of mobile media devices such as the iPod, which cannot play songs limited to the Windows Media DRM, has forced the retailer to carry out a complete switch-over. Wal-Mart had announced its ... (view more)

Steve Jobs has not changed his mind about the way music should be sold. Last week, Jobs reinforced his view that subscriptions and iTunes do not mix. "Never say never, but customers don't seem to be interested in it," Jobs said of subscription ... services. "The subscription model has failed so far." (Source: reuters.com ) Jobs' stance on the issue is far from new. In 2003, Jobs explained to Rolling Stone how the natural evolution of music doesn't support subscription services: "People don't want to buy their music as a subscription. They bought 45s; then they bought LPs; then they bought ... (view more)

The rapid decline in digital music revenue, stemming from the rampant file-sharing continually done by consumers, has finally forced the major record labels to take notice. Many of the same record labels that vowed never to release their music on ... the Internet without copyright restrictions are now actually reconsidering this option. (Source: iht.com ) At Midem, the name for the annual international music trade exhibition held in France, many within the industry estimate that at least one out of the four major record companies are considering the sale of their unrestricted music files in MP3 ... (view more)

Representatives from MySpace.com have announced the creation of a system that will prevent users from uploading copyright music onto their personal sites. The system known as "audio fingerprinting" intends to protect the rights of all recording and ... independent artists. (Source: dailycamera.com ) MySpace.com hopes to review all music files uploaded through a database known as Gracenote Inc. Members who repeatedly attempt to upload copyright music files will be permanently removed from the site and relieved of all privileges. (Source: technology.canoe.ca ) Recently, sites typically driven by ... (view more)