According to TechCrunch, Amie Street has licensed Nettwerk’s catalog. First to launch will be the new Barenaked Ladies album. Amie Street provides DRM-free MP3s with an escalating pricing scheme: Tracks are initially free and increase in price in relation to download numbers, capped at 98 cents a pop.
I wonder what Dale Dietrich’s take is? He’s much more opposed to DRM than I am, which I see as inevitable, and believes a DRM-free marketplace can thrive. We had quite the stimulating DRM conversation while I was in Toronto. We also speculated on the motivation behind Steve Jobs’ manifesto — Dale believes it was written in response to the European nations clamoring for Apple to open up; I believe it’s a tactic to help keep tracks at a flat rate in response to studio push-back. Both? Neither?
Is it just me, or is nettwerk’s site cheaper than amie street at this point? Why should I pay $15 for mp3 files when I can pay $10 for the *same* album as mp3 files on nettmusic.com?
http://www.werkshop.com/store/item.action?artist_id=10&cat_id=1&item_id=4475
They even have FLAC for some of the albums!
What would Dale Dietrich’s take be? I think its terrific. Amie Street has been a pet interest of Arrington for some time now. He discusses it, among other places, in his podcast with the FORMER Yahoo! Music exec David Goldberg here:
http://www.talkcrunch.com/2007/01/10/talk-with-yahoo-music-execs-on-the-fate-of-drm/
The Barenaked Ladies have long been on record as being anti-DRM. This all makes sense. Every step in the direction of ridding the world of unfair DRM usage by the recording industry is a good thing.
By the way, if you haven’t yet listened to the TalkCrunch podcast I linked to above, I STRONGLY recommend it. It is one of the best on the topic over the last few months.
…Dale
I agree with Dale that DRM should be dropped and that it will ultimately benefit the recording industry.
Recent comment: http://hdtivo.wordpress.com/2007/02/09/jobs-and-drm/