Before you judge the article by looking at the title read on and you might understand why I suggest that no one buys a Zune. It has nothing to do because it is produced by Microsoft – I really do not care about that. It also has nothing to do with the features or hardware that was built into the device – I do not care about that either.
The thing that I do not like about Zune is that record labels and artists do get a share for every Zune device that is sold. That is right folks, it does not matter if you buy music or videos to put on the Zune. They get their share even if you only use it for listening to your own music, your own movies and your own pictures. Why do they get paid for it, what is the reason behind this ?
“These devices are just repositories for stolen music, and they all know it,” UMG chairman/CEO Doug Morris says. “So it’s time to get paid for it.”
Now isn’t that nice. EVERYONE is using devices like the Zune to steal music. It has no other reasons according to Doug Morris. Do you think it is fair that everyone has to pay for something that might happen ?
Please note that he is speaking about devices, not the Zune directly. This is an indication of what they want to achieve. They want to get their share of the price for every device that is like the Zune which means that they will try and push the companies who create such devices to pay them a fee as well.
Guess who is paying that bill in the long run ? Right, you and me.
The only way to stop this is to boycott the beginning – which is the Zune. Don’t buy it, show the greedy ones who is in charge.
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What about the IPod and all the previous mp3 players?
I think the Zune is the first to do this..
Never owned an IPod, not going to buy a Zune either. It would be nice if an artist is compensated properly for their songs but players or no players its not always happening.
btw Martin, typo in the title :)
it was my understanding that it was actually JUST the record companies (not the artists) getting a slice of the zune pie…
also, the fact that zune is going to add it’s own (so-called viral) DRM to files (even your own or creative commons licensed music, thereby violating the cc license) sucks pretty hard too…
$1 for every $250 Zune goes to the Recording Companies who will share %50 of that with the Artists.
Personally, I’m in favor of it. Think about it. $1 of your money toward a hardware purchase so that eventually all MP3′s (software) will be free?
Thanks RG fixed the typo.
Jason please tell me why the Recording Companies should receive money for nothing ? This would be the same if I would charge everyone for visiting my site because they could copy my articles..
Why would someone who would only play videos on his Zune pay the Recording Companies ? Why someone who would only buy legal mp3 files ?
sorry Martin; as much as i’d like to agree, but that Zune looks pretty :D – the black one especially. Nice quality screen too. If its better than the ipod video next generation i will buy one :D £130 is a nice figure for 30gb flash drive/linux capable, colour screen, high def music playing device ;)
I think they may have us by the short and curlies here, I mean, how many of us are going to boycott this device for altruistic reasons. If we really want a Zune we’ll swallow our pride and buy one… life sucks.
That “50% going to the artists” will be subject to all manner of withholdings, such as printing and breakage charges (on a non-physical product), and costs of recording, promotion and management (even if no such services are being provided to that artists).
In short: the artists will get very little, if anything, if they are locked in to standard recording contracts. They pay all the record company costs, for the privilege of signing away all rights to the music that they PAID to create. Hey, that brass ring is pretty and shiny…
References:
http://www.thebaffler.com/albiniexcerpt.html
http://www.salon.com/tech/feature/2000/06/14/love/
Get yourselves a reasonably powerful CD walkman that can play from DVDs and supports formats like mp3 and preferably also Ogg. It might not be quite as posh and hip, but saves a bundle and works about as well!
I do not see any point to be forced to d/load everything from a prescribed source to boot!
Progress exists in many forms. Simplicity is alway the greatest progress!
Oliver most users prefer small over big.. unless they are women and talking about sex :)