Sony To Offer Music Downloads On PlayStation Network

Sony is jumping into the online music distribution market, as sources told CNET that Sony is attempting to deal with other major recording companies to provide music downloads through the PlayStation Network.

This comes after Sir Howard Stringer, Sony Chairman, President and CEO, said that the company can compete with iTunes by providing “something that Apple can’t” and will “grab that opportunity before Apple begins to provide support for other hardware and blocks [Sony] out.” Digital music served on the Playstation Network seems to be the answer. Read more...

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Sony Music Challenges Apple iTunes

Sony Music Group has a long history of non-transparency with customers, even scandals involving the inclusion of dubious copy protection software on CDs, but is seems like the media company is trying to change. In an interview, Sir Howard Stringer, Sony Chairman, President and CEO, said that “Sony has begun the transition from a closed system to an open one.” Continue reading...

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Lala Music Service Uses Network DRM

Digital Rights Management software (DRM), when used, attempts to control use of digital music by preventing access, copying or conversion to other formats. Until recently, Apple used the technology on all music they sold.

Now it seems that music service Lala, backed by Warner Music, filed for a patent last year on “a network-based DRM system [that] manages digital media assets stored in the network.” So instead of wrapping individual songs in DRM, Lala uses their servers to control the use of music on the platform. Continue reading...

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New iTunes Pricing Is Losing Labels Money

Executives within the major labels are confirming decreased sales on iTunes ever since Apple implemented variable pricing on the popular digital music store in April. Digital Music News reports that individual song sales have dropped, resulting in a decline in overall revenue.

The most popular songs on iTunes were set to $1.29, and even though a drop in sales was probably expected, the higher prices were supposed to compensate for that loss. Even worse, the sales slump has for all songs, not just the top tier tracks. One of the industry execs told Digital Music News:

“It’s back to the abacus to figure out the best mix.”

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Trent Reznor Curses Apple For Rejecting NIN iPhone App

The Nine Inch Nails iPhone application update was rejected recently by Apple, purportedly because it contains objectionable content. Front man Trent Reznor posted the rejection email from Apple on the NIN message board, here’s an excerpt:

“Applications must not contain any obscene, pornographic, offensive or defamatory content or materials of any kind (text, graphics, images, photographs, etc.), or other content or materials that in Apple’s reasonable judgement (sic) may be found objectionable by iPhone or iPod touch users.”

iPhone applications don’t have a rating system like music and movies yet, and it seems that Apple has adopted a strict policy regarding curse words in apps. Reznor was, to say the least, extremely dissatisfied with the decision, and responded angrily: Continue reading...

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Apple Gets Sued, Accused of Censorship

Last year, a noncommercial, public Internet ‘wiki’ site operated by OdioWorks called BlueWiki was shut down after Apple lawyers claimed (pdf) that discussions on the site constituted copyright infringement. BluWiki users shared information about making other music platforms, like Songbird, Banshee, Rockbox and Winamp, workable on the iPhone and iPod instead of Apple’s iTunes.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has now partnered with OdioWorks to file a lawsuit against Apple for stifling free speech on BluWiki in order to restore the discussions on the site. Apple is obviously trying to maintain iTunes as the exclusive platform on the iPod and iPhone, but hobbyists and tinkerers should be able to share their thoughts on community sites like BluWiki. Read more...

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Apple’s New iPod Shuffle Has A Voice

The new version of the iPod Shuffle has been presented by Apple. It’s touted as the world’s smallest music player at just 45.2mm high, 17.5mm wide and 7.8mm deep, which is the size of an average key. The new device features Apple’s new voice technology, called VoiceOver, which tells you what song and artist you’re listening to. Read more...

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Albums Sold As Apps Bypass iTunes

The Presidents of the United States have released all their albums on the iPhone, not via iTunes, but through the iPhone Apps store. The app, called ‘The Presidents’ Music — PUSA,’ sells for $2.99 on the App Store offers users access to four full albums, including the band’s early “lost” recordings. Read more...

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Apple Backtracks, Warner Music Sues Songbeat, Wii Music Sells Poorly

Songs downloaded from Apple iTunes Plus don’t work on all mp3 players, Wii Music tanks in sales, and Warner Music files suit against handy music app Songbeat, here’s todays tech news: Continue reading...

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Apple Strong-Arms Music Industry

In January, Apple and the music industry seemed to be on good terms. With the removal of copyright protection software (DRM), and the renegotiation of pricing on iTunes, the scenario was heartening. But now, discussion over the specific timing of these changes has sparked renewed antagonism between the two giants. Read more...

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iPod Record Sales, Ubisoft Music Game, Music Biz

Apple iPods hit a new record for sales over the holiday season, Ubisoft announces a new ‘cross-platform music-based game’, and Time magazine gives the lowdown on the music industry crisis. Check out today’s tech round up…

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Record Breaking Digital Sales in 2008

In 2008, music single tracks sold 33% more than albums due to the increasing tendency towards online download sales and a fantastic 2008 release schedule. Young music fans have steered away from illegal downloads, and are progressively buying more songs online according to the BPI.

With 115 million tracks sold, big-selling releases by artists including Leona Lewis, Coldplay, the Killers and Take That helped the industry make record sales last year. Digital retailers and online stores have boomed with easy interfaces and mobile capability, and the future of the online music business is becoming more obvious. Cheaper is better.

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