Record labels preparing to launch new audio format
By Sean P. Aune
There is nothing more frustrating to technology fans than incompatible formats and equipment, but it seems someone forgot to inform the major record labels of this.
“How are you enjoying those CMX formatted songs on your media player? What do you mean it doesn’t play CMX files?” While you haven’t had this conversation yet, you might be hearing it quite a lot if the major record labels have their collective way.
According to The Guardian, Sony, Warner Music Group, Universal and EMI have banded together to create a new audio file format currently codenamed “CMX”. This new file format will allow for songs, lyrics, videos, liner notes and artwork to be combined into one package so that when you open it, all of the information will be available at a glance.
While all of that sounds tantalizing, the big question is where it will be usable. It has been rumored that the rumored Apple is working on something similar for the Apple Tablet under the codename of “Cocktail”, and that it would do the same thing as CMX. A record label told the Times that the new format had been discussed with Apple, and while at first it seemed they might use it, the Cupertino, CA-based company opted to go with its own competing format.
If Apple isn’t on board with this new format, that really makes you think about what media players would actually support this. The iPod line is the undisputed king of the media player market, and it they won’t play the format, will any one even bother purchasing files formatted in that manner? And, if no one is buying them, will any other manufacturers bother adding support for them?
It could be a vicious cycle, and one has to wonder why the music industry is even bothering. If this had been attempted years ago, it might have worked, but with MP3 files and iPods so deeply entrenched in the portable music market at this point, it is going to be next to impossible for a poorly supported format to make any sort of dent in the market that will be remembered as anything other than a footnote.
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Read more entries by Sean P. Aune.
Stumble It!
August 11th, 2009
Like anyone will care.
August 12th, 2009
It will fail…MP3’s will continue to rule for a long time….
August 12th, 2009
What do you want to bet, this glorious new format is going to have so much DRM, you are going to need a record exec standing next to you every time you want to play a song. But hey, if they want to throw money out of the window, let them.
August 12th, 2009
Maybe if these labels developing the format only publish their new music on CMX, and it probably will be DRM heavy, then people will be forced to use it.
August 13th, 2009
If all record company are support this new format we will have no choice but to use it. Apple would have to use it by force since is the new file format like Blu-ray Disc is the standard. I don’t care much since i only hear music on my TV or YouTube.
August 14th, 2009
It won’t matter one iota if the majors only release in CRX format.
Someone clever will figure out how to extract the data into separate components, and then will format shift it to something ubiquitous like MP3, WMV, MPG etc. Once this has been done, others will develop tools for the layperson that automate the process, and then the robber-barons of the RIAA will be right back at square one, again…
The power of the modern day personal computer has ensured that everyone now potentially has the resources of a digital sound studio at their fingertips.