Welcome to April 28th, 2003
May 30, 2007It took over four years, but at long last my disposable income is now entirely at risk to the iTunes store. Since well before the store launched in ‘03, the principal way that I listen to music at home is via a Squeezebox or a Sonos. Neither one of course can play FairPlay DRM’d tracks. As a result I’ve been pretty much completely cut off from the iTunes universe. Sure I have an iPod but the idea of buying music that wouldn’t play on my home stereo was never appealing to me. Sure I understand that I could go through the whole burn-re-rip thing but who wants to deal with that. So throughout the entire digital music revolution I’ve been buying CD’s from Amazon. With the launch of DRM-free tracks on iTunes today I can finally purchase digital music. So far, even with just one label on board, it’s been an expensive shift — I’ve bought 4 full albums so far. I’m sure if there were other labels available I’d have bought more. I know I’m far from the typical music consumer, but this really is a game-changer for me.
May 31, 2007 at 10:14 am
I haven’t looked yet, but I certainly will. I guess they’re still AAC though?
And you’re saying you’ve never had an emusic account? Surprising!
May 31, 2007 at 10:46 am
Yeah, I’ve spent a few bucks at “non-DRM” sites such as eMusic and Amie Street over the years, and it’s nice to see iTunes start to offer non-DRM tracks now too.
May 31, 2007 at 10:50 am
Scott, well you’ve got me there. I do have an emusic account and I have grabbed tracks from emusic. For whatever reason though I’ve had a hard time stitching it into how I think about getting music. More often than not I’ve already ordered the CD from amazon before it even occurs to me that I might be able to get it from emusic.
May 31, 2007 at 3:44 pm
Heh, that’s somewhat similar to my emusic experience — which in fact I just kind of ranted about on my blog. (http://www.antisleep.com/archives/2007-05-12_0342.php)
I’d rather see a little guy win, but whoever lets me buy the new Unsane record the minute it comes out it gonna get my money. Of course I don’t think iTunes is any better on the “approachable by tiny indies” front.
November 29, 2007 at 1:57 am
Hi.
Good design, who make it?