Tuesday, January 06, 2009

The Tipping Point

It's just possible that there is that one crazy digital hermit out there who is living under a virtual rock, getting that one solitary, hopelessly attenuated thread of music news from the Phree Musique Blog. Sorry about dropping the ball, dude. For you, allow me to be the least prominent outlet to nod to the announcement that the iTunes Music Store is finally going all-DRM-free.

Listen, after the thorough flogging I gave iTMS I kind of have to announce this. And, I suppose, grudgingly upgrade their site rating from "Hate" to "Shrugs" (because your interface still SUCKS Steve Jobs! I was surfing it on the iPod touch on the free WiFi in my parents' town this Christmas and the mobile interface was RIDICULOUS).

Here's my review money quote:

The point I'm making here is that if Apple has attained Walmart-like retail status as a music seller, no mean feat, it is also delivering a Walmart retail experience. The user interface is a cluttered mess, selections based on personal data are shallow and perfunctory, searching is mediocre, and the location of the store within my music-playing software is actually kind of a pain in the ass. The failure to negotiate equal access with Amazon to DRM free major label catalogs was a big fumble, the pricing is largely uncompetitive, the surcharge on music in the Plus catalog sucks, and frankly, I'll shop there again when everything is DRM free and they offer me free upconversion of all my previously purchased, FairPlay encumbered tracks, which I'll otherwise probably expunge next time a major migration of the catalog is required.

Well I was a big old hypocrite and kept right on using iTMS, though a lot less than before, and I can't front: after I'm done wrapping this up I'm going to head right over there and pay those bastards their "30 cents per song or 30 percent of the album price" to convert my old iTunes tracks to DRM free. You Bastards!

Meanwhile: does anyone really give a hoot about this blog? I wouldn't mind keeping on, but I honestly just can't give myself a music-buying budget right now. So, if you think the reviews should continue, your job is to post an idea for how I can raise the meager "operating capital" I require to do so. If I don't get at least five UNIQUE ideas I'm shuttering it (with the occasional "just because" update like this one) with no further qualms. Caveat: advertising is not an option (been down that road) unless you are actually going to offer me money to advertise something. And don't ask me for site statistics if you are, because I don't collect them (I know, I know, it's not a business, okay?). To be continued! Or more likely not! Because I will eat my hat if this thing still has five unique readers! Incidentally, I will eat my hat online for music money!

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