Peter Jenner DRM alternative by Music Tax in Europe
November 20th, 2006
Brought to my attention by TechCrunch, in an interview with Peter Jenner (former Pink Floyd manager), the most idiotic DRM alternavtive was given. Peter Jenner thinks a mandatory tax of €4/month in Europe on computers and other music electronic devices is a good alternative to large record labels struggling with DRM. In return for the monthly tax, listeners can then download all the music they want online.
Revenue on market share
This tax would then be distributed among the record labels based on their market share.
Iin theory, it really isn’t too bad. The ability to pay $5/month for all the music I can handle is very tempting. But then when I think about what it would do to the industry, I think buying CDs is a much better alternative.
This system would make labels worry only about market share, thus, not promoting music they may actually like. All labels would promote would be the catchy, generic, mainstream music. Small, independent labels would really suffer. And since I’m all for indie music, this idea sucks.
Along with my support for independent music, I also support freedom. Some people may not like music. That’s fine. But why should the government be allowed to tax computer owners (basically everyone) for music that they don’t like, don’t enjoy, and don’t use? It’s terrible.
Ok, he didn’t actually say that. But Jenner’s propsition is terrible, and I didn’t even get into the economic side of things. We live in a capitalistic society. Who would distribute the music? Would the EU create its own distribution channel? What would happen to iTunes, record stores, and other music distributors? I suppose they would just go out of business…?
Please stop Jenner
So even though Peter Jenner was a successful manager in his day, he should not be getting involved with the new DRM issues that plague the industry today. It may be time for him to keep his ideas of the modern day music industry to himself.
So until a practical DRM alternative is proposed, I suppose we’ll be stuck in the slump we’re in right now. I do think that something needs to change, but what that is, I do not know.
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