...and on the other hand

In a recent letter to the New York Times, musician/indie label honcho Blake Morgan decries "Apple’s decisions to drop copyright protection called digital rights management, or D.R.M., and to institute multitiered pricing for music it sells through its iTunes Store."

Morgan further believes the measure "has minimal impact on megastars and corporate labels. But it’s devaluing and disastrous for emerging artists and independent labels."

D.R.M.-free downloads are excused as “promoting” music that consumers eventually purchase. But most digital music is never purchased at all. This doesn’t mean that artists or indie labels are choosing to give work away as promotional tools. It means that the music is being copied without the artist’s consent.

Those applauding actions that will hasten music’s economic collapse are often well-meaning folks who also decry pop music’s Wal-Martification. But rock ’n’ roll and hip-hop are art forms created by the disenfranchised, before franchisers even notice them.

Apple’s decision makes it harder for those of us more interested in the high note than the bottom line.

Interesting point, indeed.