Feed starving artists! Buy a Zune!

[zrath]

One of the music guys at work told me about this today, and since no one else has mentioned it,
I'm gonna go ahead and bring it up because it's of interest to all music fans.
Microsoft and Universal Music Group jointly announced today that UMG songs would be available
for MS' new Zune MP3 player. The big deal, though, is that MS will also give the label money
for every single Zune player sold. WTF!??!
And supposedly, some of that money will make it back to the artists.
Double WTF!?!?
UMG was iTunes' main launch partner, and MS is aiming for the iPod, so what does this means for iTunes?
Here's a ZD-Net article with all the information.
The iPod is a formidable opponent, and MS will need all the help it can buy.
So I guess bribing labels is par the course.

Not mentioned in the article is the fact that Zune tunes are apparently DRM-free.
There's a wifi sharing function that allows you to share your tunes with your friends.
However, your Zune player wraps the tunes in DRM before sending them over, and your friends
can only play them for three listens or three days, whichever comes first. Then they die, but
stay on your player, taking up space. (I guess you can delete them)
At this point, the system treats ALL tunes on your Zune the same, so the DRM goes on no matter what.
WTF?!?!

This is going to be very interestink...
And possibly stupid...

Comments

Zuney tunes?

[selenesue.livejournal.com]

I'm already a longtime iPodling so I don't suppose I can partake of the Zuney goodness. Let us know how it goes.

Re: Zuney tunes?

[zrath.livejournal.com]

I'm not in the market for a portable MP3 player.
I've got Winamp at home and iTunes at work.
If I want music on the go, my portable CD player serves me well.
Call me old-fashioned.

I'm simply concerned about the ramifications of this deal and business model.

[zeeth_kyrah]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVrlA3-f29g&NR

[zrath.livejournal.com]

Crazy French people, yea!!

[palabrajot.livejournal.com]

You know, Gillette sent me one of their new razors the other day, unbidden, gratis, in the hopes that I'll like it and buy their blades.
If Microsoft wanted to try the same thing with the Zune, I'm game. ^.^

[doodlesthegreat.livejournal.com]

If I said that even if I trust MS on this, I wouldn't trust the RIAA any farther than I could throw Mt. Everest, would you understand why I'm giving this a pass?

[zrath.livejournal.com]

Considering I trust the RIAA about as much as I'd trust a rabid wolverine with a magical
self-reloading bazooka, yeah I totally see where you're coming from.