DRM-Free EMI: Microsoft Joins Apple
April 5, 2007
Over at DRMWatch, Bill Rosenblatt weighs in on DRM-Free music, EMI, Microsoft, and Apple.
As far as EMI is concerned, the deal was shortsighted, risky, and possibly irresponsible to the company’s shareholders. EMI is the smallest of the four majors, enjoys no synergies with corporate siblings, and is undergoing financial hard times. This move with Apple was a lunge for near-term revenue, at the quite possible expense of longer term revenue for EMI and the rest of the industry. EMI gets a cash advance of US $5 Million from Apple. It should enjoy a short-term revenue spurt as some consumers respond to the hype and purchase DRM-free tracks for $1.29 (in the US market).
Posted by Bill Trippe at April 5, 2007 8:23 PM
