Midem: time's up for DRM.

Pressure mounts to free downloads from digital rights management

By Martin Talbot

The major record groups are under increasing pressure to soften their stance on digital rights management (DRM), in an effort to rev up the digital revolution.

The international music industry gathered at Midem last week, with major label sources, independent labels and digital operators indicating that a softening of the approach must come sooner rather than later.

DRM - the software or technique used by labels to restrict the free use and transfer of their digital music - continues to be supported by all four of the major record companies. But sources from several majors privately concede that its days may be numbered. Indeed, MW understands that at least one major will take a key step on this road over the coming weeks.

In a keynote interview moderated by MW, RealNetworks chief Rob Glaser - whose company sells DRM-protected digital music through its Rhapsody subscription service - told MidemNet, "There is a groundswell, and I say that on the basis of private conversations. It will happen between next year and five years from now, but it is more likely to be in one to two years."

eMusic president David ...