This breaking news just in: Consumers Do Not Care About DRM.

From: http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9972528-7.html?tag=nefd.top

Rivals have launched many an assault, but even e-commerce competitors as savvy as Amazon.com still face quite an uphill battle–sales of songs at 9-month-old AmazonMP3, the No. 2 digital music store, are only a tenth the volume of those at iTunes, according to market researcher NPD Group.

 For all you writers and bloggers and tech pundits who have dogged DRM for so long in your comfy cozy seat on the Anti-DRM hatewagon, get a clue. If consumers really cared that much about DRM, AmazonMP3 would have done a wee bit better in regards to sales. My studies show that consumers equate MP3=Free.

DRM is not the bogeyman under the bed. It’s just a technology that companies like Apple use to sell Billions of music tracks.

That’s right you heard it here first:

From: MSN Music [communications@communications3.msn.com]

On April 22, Microsoft notified you that as of August 31st, 2008, we would be changing the level of support for music purchased from MSN Music, and while your existing purchased music would continue to play, you would no longer be able to authorize new PCs and devices to play that music.

After careful consideration, Microsoft has decided to continue to support the authorization of new computers and devices and delivery of new license keys for MSN Music customers through at least the end of 2011, after which we will evaluate how much this functionality is still being used and what steps should be taken next to support our customers. This means you will continue to be able to listen to your purchased music and transfer your music to new PCs and devices beyond the previously announced August 31, 2008 date.

Microsoft continues to recommend that you back up your music on CD or hard drive along with other important data.

Sincerely,

MSN Music team