Making music pay [digital music distribution]

摘要

The author argues that free Napster-style music sharing is on itsnway out. He believes that the future of digital music distribution willnbe determined by consumers voting with their purses for a single, or atnmost two, systems, just as they did with videotape formats and PCnoperating systems. Napster offered immediate gratification; regaining itnwill cost some privacy as well as money. As companies like Microsoftncome to know all about us-not just our choices in music and films, butnabout our finances and even personal location-we may long for anpre-digital day. Meanwhile, you may think you are buying the right tonplay a song at will. In truth, as digital music payment systems emerge,nyou will only be buying the right to play it on devices that recognizenthat right and have the software to play it