Simeon Says

So I just saw this article over on Engadget called Universal and Rhapsody launch DRM-free partnership “test” and my first thought was “Why?”. They already had a distribution channel set up with Apple through iTunes.

Now I understand that there are lots of reasons that Universal might want to do this. The first among them is to not let Apple bully them into paying whatever Apple wants. They may not want apple to dictate the show.

But here is the problem. Until I got an iPod and started using iTunes my music collection was probably 90% illegal. Due to a hard drive crash that collection went bye-bye and so my iTunes purchase and my old CD collection were all I have. But I remember as I was making my transition from illegal to legal music adoption that the program I used to get the music actually put the downloads in iTunes automatically. And really it was only the convenience of using one application (iTunes) that enabled me to go legit. The money was never really part of it. 99 cents for a song was not a big deal and I have payed it happily for several years.

Here is the rub if Universals music is not on iTunes, I am not going to be buying it. I am not setting up another account with some other company. And I am not alone in my decision that should they turn there back on us Apple Hardware Toting Geeks, I will download the music without their permission.

I know this is no considerate threat. And I am not worried about making this accusation because I am currently legit in my music consumption. But could they really be making enough money difference without Apple to justify the lost dollars associated with people not willing to switch? I can not believe this is true. And I am sorry for Universal should they drop their distribution through iTunes.

PS. All of this is assuming I wanted some song from a Universal artist, which I can not confirm nor deny. :)