Will Amazon succeed where iTunes failed?
By George Gardner
Apple’s iTunes may be faced with some competition in the coming months as Amazon.com plans to launch a similar online music store in May, and is aiming to achieve a DRM-free music catalog, according to Billboard.
In light of recent events between iTunes and record label EMI, Amazon wants to take the next step forward by trying to convince the big record labels to drop the DRM and march to the beat of a different drum.
The Times reported that Amazon had recently approached all the major music labels and said it wanted to sell DRM-free songs as early as may; although, it’s hard to imagine any label will see eye-to-eye with Amazon’s fruitless proposal.
Universal Music Group is seemingly taking interest in Amazon’s offer as they plan to ‘test run’ unprotected digital music with some of its classical music catalog on Amazon’s new service starting next month.
But Apple is certainly in a better position in persuading record labels to change their tune, as their contracts with Apple are due to expire. Renegotiating contracts with various labels, while steering away from DRM, may allow iTunes, with its 80% market share, to lead the anti-DRM movement.
It’s nearly impossible to say whether Amazon’s music service will launch as planned; previous efforts such as last year’s digital music subscription service and Amazon’s own branded MP3 player to rival the fastest selling music player in history were later abandoned.
If Amazon’s plan to finish negotiations and launch its service by May is successful, it will still be left to deal with the competition offered by iTunes. But the real winner in this game will ultimately be the first service who adopts an across-the-board DRM-free music collection at a reasonable price.
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Stumble It!
April 24th, 2007
I wonder if Amazon will be selling music via Amazon.com or via Amasong?
I recently done a who is on Amasong.com and found that Amazon Inc own it. Sound good!
April 24th, 2007
That would be pretty wild if Amazon goes DRM-free as well. Apple is certainly leading the way.
I’m not sure the music industry will benefit from this, as much as they think. I mean, DRM-free has been available on CD all along. The music industry needs something a little different, something like what Shelly Palmer has suggested in “DRM-Free iTunes – Did We Miss the Memo?”
Still I am excited about DRM-free.
- Jennifer
April 6th, 2008
I heard that they’re also implementing this into the new Grand Theft Auto game where you can buy songs inside the game’s world. Sounds pretty cool to me.