It is essential to know the history of online music in order to get an idea about where it is heading. Let’s look back at the time music downloading was first popular. It was in the early days of Napster that I first heard about it. Everyone was going wild, downloading any and all music without consequences. The RIAA then came along and stated that you were downloading our copyrighted content. The RIAA has been fighting a long and difficult battle to stop copyright infringement.
A new generation of websites offering legal music downloads emerged after the demise of Napster and peer-to-peer file sharing. Napster signed deals with major labels to give unlimited access to their music. To make this happen, the record industry needed to find a way for them to protect their investment.
Digital rights management (DRM) was also introduced. To limit media access, new DRM technologies were developed. You can download and listen as many songs you want, as long as Rhapsody is subscribed. These songs can be played on any MP3 player, except iPod and Zune. DRM restricts the devices that you can access and then cuts access when you terminate your subscription Tubidy.
Companies can also choose to manage their own DRM. Your options are limited if your iPod or Zune player is purchased. Apple and Microsoft try to make you use iTunes and Zune Marketplace.
Things have changed a lot over the past few years. Wal-Mart and Amazon have signed agreements with major labels to offer DRM-free song downloads. The key is that while you pay a fee for each MP3 you download, you get the music with no DRM restrictions. iTunes even offers DRM-free downloads.
Online media companies face another challenge: ISPs must fight to reduce network traffic, and reduce congestion during peak hours. A major concern is the lack of infrastructure in the US. Comcast and Time Warner are testing a method of charging customers for metered internet access or throttle traffic. This could lead to customers being disenfranchised. We are no longer living in an age of static web pages and text email. Sites offer rich content, including streaming audio and videos, social integration, and interactive settings for people to meet just like at their local watering hole. ISPs will listen to customers and expand their networks to meet our ever-growing bandwidth requirements.
What does this mean for us? Before my rants, I remember expressing excitement about online downloadings’ future. Online music sites look to the future. You can download songs to your PC, mobile phone, or any other web-enabled device and have instant access to the most recent songs. DRM-free music is the future, as proven by sites like eMusic and Wal-Mart. Next, sites like Rhapsody or Napster will need to find a way to provide unlimited access to DRM-free music for a monthly fee. This is a difficult task, but it could be very lucrative for the music industry in this digital age.
Netflix offers a wide range of movie downloads for free, so there’s more to the excitement than music. This is not just about watching movies on your computer. You can watch movies directly on your TV with a set-top box. Industry experts predict that in a few years, you won’t need to run to the local video shop to rent the latest DVD movies. You’ll be able to download them whenever you want. Okay, I hear you asking, “How long does it take for the movie to download?” Netflix allows me to start watching movies within 30 seconds of the download starting. While I enjoy the movie, the rest of the movie is downloaded.