According to the BBC:
The study revealed that about 54% of those executives questioned thought that current DRM systems were too restrictive.
Also, 62% believed that dropping DRM and releasing music files that can be enjoyed on any MP3 player would boost the take-up of digital music generally. However, Mr Mulligan pointed out that this percentage changed depending on which sector of the industry was answering.
Among all record labels 48% of all executives thought ending DRM would boost download sales – though this was 58% at the larger labels. Outside the record labels 73% of those questioned thought dropping DRM would be a boost for the whole market.
Among all those questioned, 70% believed that the future of downloadable music lay in making tracks play on as many different players as possible. But 40% believed it would take concerted government or consumer action to bring this about.
Despite these feelings, said Mr Mulligan, record labels are committed to using DRM because their digital music strategies revolve around these technologies.
“Despite everything that has been happening the record labels are not about to drop DRM,” said Mr Mulligan. “Even though all they are doing is making themselves look even less compelling by using it.”
It’s interesting how the music execs draw a parallel between DRM and proprietary lock-in. It’s almost like they’re saying it’s Apple’s fault iTunes Store songs only play on iPods. In reality, and Jobs stated this a few weeks back, iTunes enforces DRM in a number of ways–one, by keeping FairPlay close to the vest and two, by keeping the entire iTunes value chain close to the vest. He also stated that he doesn’t really like DRM, but more or less supports it through iTunes as a capitulation to the music industry. I would think the music industry would be flocking to Jobs and Co., seeing as how CDs aren’t generally DRM’d and can be copied using a simple CD-burner. Yet the growth of online sales, which some record execs believe is stunted or below its potential, is being laid at the feet of Apple because DRM’d songs only play on the iPod. Well, hello, guys! It’s your own darn fault. Your insistence on DRM lock-in isn’t compatible with Apple’s desire to stay away from the patent licensing business. Does Apple want to sell security technologies or media solutions? Gee, that’s not a hard one to figure out. Down with DRM. Let’s just get it over with already.
