Amazon to Sell DRM-Free Music

Amazon just announced its plans to launch an online music store filled with mp3 tracks that are compatible with EVERY player on the market in the entire world! Although the store won't launch until later this year, only one of the big record labels has enough vision to make the momentous leap – EMI – which says it will make "millions of songs in the DRM-free MP3 format from more than 12,000 record labels".

CEA Announces Connection Standard for Portable Media Players

The Consumer Electronics Association's Mobile Electronics Committee looks set to shake up the portable media player industry a bit, today announcing a new connection standard for PMPs that'll extend to vehicles in addition to in-home use. While details are somewhat light, the standard (otherwise known as CEA-2017) describes a single connector that'll let you both play and charge a portable media player in conjunction with any in-home or in-vehicle audio/video device sporting the same common connector. From the looks of it, the newly-standardized connector would also seem to be well on its way to acceptance, with more than 100 companies having a hand in its development, which apparently includes a number of automakers and accessory-makers in addition to PMP manufacturers. Not so clear, however, is when we might actually start seeing devices with the connector, although we're guessing that it'll still quite a while before it truly becomes "standard."

Background on Recent Court Decision From ASCAP CEO

From ASCAP’s newsletter….

 

“ASCAP CEO John LoFrumento gives some background information regarding the recent court decision concerning the existence of a performing right in a download. It is important that you as ASCAP members know this background so that speculation and misinformation do not replace facts. Most importantly, the Society wants you to understand that every action ASCAP took with regard to this matter was entirely driven by the goal of protecting your performing rights as a music creator and ensuring that you receive the compensation to which you are legally entitled.”

Read the Court Background Decision Letter.