Later today Sonos will announce that their home music devices will now support Microsoft DRM’d music. That means music from AOL Music Now, MTV Networks’ URGE, Napster, Wal-Mart, Yahoo! Music and the Zune Marketplace will all play on the Sonos devices. Users have been able to play music from Rhapsody since September - meaning that all major music services except iTunes are now supported to some degree.
Sonos users must upgrade to v 2.1 of the software, available here.
Apple still has such a stranglehold on the digital music industry that it’s unclear this will drive much additional usage. And while Sonos will play downloads from the music services, they will only play streaming music from Rhapsody subscribers. So if you are a Sonos user, you’re best bet is to make sure your downloaded music is in the MP3 format, or use the Rhapsody subscription service if that’s your cup of tea.
Things got a little simpler in the DRM world today, but it is our opinion that the days of being forced to buy protected music will soon be over. In the meantime, we do not recommend buying DRM’d downloads from any service. Either buy the CD and rip it, as Bill Gates recommends, or join one of the subscription services. We won’t talk about BitTorrent and AllofMP3 ’cause our lawyer told us to stop.
Our previous coverage of Sonos is here.
See all
Post
Sounds great,now i guess the music freaks have now waived their hands out for a better opportunities with the new sonos music devices.
Kind of funny your lawyer told you to stop talking about Bitorrent and AllofMP3.
I realize not all speech is protected, but you should be free to comment on outside events, no matter what.
I think the Sonos devise itself is a big enough selling point without being able to play MS DRM’d music. I only hope that the iTV is as good for TV as the Sonos is for music.
I may just have to get one of these now
I think a big part of the problem is consumer ignorance about DRM. According to a UK study from last year (http://www.entertainmentmediaresearch.com/digitalmusicsurvey_2006.pdf),
- 53% of people hadn’t heard of DRM
- 19% have heard of it but don’t know what it is
- 15% know something about it
- 7% have a good understanding
- 5% know exactly what it means
As the fate of DRM will likely be decided by the consumers’ dollar, it appears then educating people about DRM is key to quickening the pace of DRM-free adoption.
About 72% of people don’t know what DRM is. 72% is also the approximate market share of iTunes.
Coincidence?
I’ve been wanting to buy some Sonos equipment for more than year now, and for the most part, I completely avoid DRM-ed music and buy CDs, which I then rip. So, it’s great to hear that Sonos is getting a bit more traction. I may have to finally make the purchase.
While I want to avoid giving any sort of legal advice, I gotta comment on your lawyers, Michael. They are not displaying much judgment, which is what you are paying for. You’re a blogger first and foremost and absolutely need to comment cutting edge issues, including potential illegal ones. As long as you aren’t complicit in the illegal activity, I would think that your role as commentator should be protected. I read your blog for quite awhile now because you have exhibited some good judgment in what you cover; don’t let your lawyers gut that judgment. You’ll lose readers, including me, if you water down the content. Read about the Grokster decision for yourself, ’cause your lawyers seem too scared to give you decent advice.
“We won’t talk about BitTorrent and AllofMP3 ’cause our lawyer told us to stop.”
I’d be interested in the reasons why you shouldn’t.
I agree with the other posts - just getting this stuff in front of the average user is the key. Most people simply don’t know there are alternatives such as this.
Support for the Zune Marketplace?!
So now that Microsoft has screwed their PlaysForSure partners they’re licensing the Zune DRM to third parties?? The only reason this isn’t a bigger story is because the Zune has already become a footnote.