Honest Music Fans

Steve Jobs over at Apple recently published his thoughts on the current state of DRM and its future.

He points out that 90% of the world's music is sold without DRM by way of music CDs, and the music industry doesn't seem to have a problem with it. He challenges the music industry to stop insisting on DRM for Internet-based music sales when it's easy enough to rip a CD to MP3 and distribute it illegally.

I love my iPod, but the only things I download from the iTunes store are freely distributed podcasts and other free offers. I have a problem purchasing content that limits me to use on any given device. I do purchase music online, but I do it at eMusic, where I purchase MP3s that can play on any MP3 player and does not include DRM. All the other music on my iPod is ripped from CDs that I and my husband own. And while all this music is DRM-free, I don't turn around and distribute it illegally. What a concept; I'm not a crook.

I also believe in supporting the people who put out the free content that I like the best. I've been a regular subscriber to National Public Radio, starting when I only listened to them on the radio, but I continue subscribing today even though now I almost exclusively listen to NPR content by way of their podcasts. I've also been known to hit the "donate" button on my favorite podcasts, or for the folks who write and manage the audiobooks made available through Podiobooks.

The music industry seems to assume that anyone who buys a CD is an honest person, but anyone who hangs out on the Internet is bound and determined to get something for free. How outdated is that? The reality is that a lot of people are generous towards content providers that they really appreciate, and that most people are not crooks. It's a shame that the music industry doesn't understand this. Let's just fire all the lawyers and agree to get along, shall we?