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Jobs needs just a 1% chance to make something happening.

But, the important thing is Jobs made this statement which puts him in the position of defender of the masses and let's iTunes off the hook. It's a perfect PR move.
"I'd give 'em away, but my wife won't let me!"

I think that, if nothing else, at least Steve Jobs has made it clear that it's not Apple's DRM that everyone needs to fight – it's all because of the record labels. Most people didn't seem to get that.

Well of course they won't, he's just clearing the air and pointing out the idiotic inconsistency with which the labels come to the table. How do you negotiate with morons like that?

CM

And isn´t this what the Steve really wants?
"I tried, but they wouldn´t do it, therefore we gotta keep the system as it is...."

What's 25% between friends?

OK, that really doesn't make sense. So instead I'll add the following news item:

MPAA and RIAA merge to become the Music And Film Industry Association of America™, Inc.

http://mafiaa.org/

i'm sorry, but what's stopping me from starting my own "record label" now that the Apple Corps problems are gone?

I mean, if i want to sign up the next American Idol to an iTunes contract? Sell mechandise and videos and songs exclusively on iTunes in mp4/AAC format that can be played on any player in the world?

Nothing. And when i start doing this, it will make the current music companies shit in their pants.

Here is the trick to the monopoly:
1. Create it.
2. Exploit it.
3. When others complain, point the finger at a third party and say it´s not my fault I have a monopoly, I would change it but all the people I lined up to help set up my monopoly won´t let me change it. Gosh-er-roo I just want to do what´s right for the people but my hands sooooooo tied.

Okay big 4, here's your chance!
You claim Apple/Steve has too much power over you? Here's your chance to put an end to that.

The balls in your court. -- If you have them

Perhaps Steve has a plan...

More radical surgery for the industry? Perhaps a top-to-bottom rethink of the way in which artists and the industry are remunerated for their work.

I can't imagine what it might be, but it would not surprise me if Apple comes up with something creative which will seem obvious to all of us after the event... An announcement of something radical in conjunction with a Beatles tie-in - well that could be fun!

As an aside, does anyone else see that iTunes and Apple TV marks the beginning of the end for cable TV companies - and perhaps free-to-air TV as well?

Mono Poly:

Right on. That was a perfect description of Microsoft. Thanks.

Apple is fully positioned to take the advantage which ever way the music industry chooses to go.

If the music industry wants to write the code for DRM, let them. Even auto companies sell vehicles with locks. I think that the music labels should develop their own impervous DRM if they're so set on it. Funny thing, locks on cars haven't stopped thefts either. I wonder what can be learned from this? Then again, most citizens don't steal cars, too, right?

Apple, just go ahead and license FairPlay already, but at terms that are profitable for you. Then in another five years, when the iPod and iTunes Store have an even bigger market share, you can say "see, an open DRM system didn't do squat", and we'll at least have the benefit making AAC the de-facto standard instead of WMA. Wouldn't it be great if Microsoft and it's partners started selling FairPlay AAC audio files instead of PlaysForSure WMA?

The truth of the matter is, regardless of which way Apple goes (removing DRM, or licensing FairPlay), it will only lead to the iPod and iTunes store dominating their markets even further.

Oh yeah, and after Apple licenses FairPlay and wins the format war, they can drop support for Windows and force people to buy Macs if they want to remain compatible with current and future music. Ah, wouldn't that be sweet irony!

@ Truth Decay:

You are too funny. LOL.

It's been really cold across teh country this week, but not nearly cold enough.

0% is, in fact, less than 25%

25%? How do they come up with numbers like this? Is it more Wall Street Quija board hocus pocus? Just because they throw out a number on anything, they believe that people pay attention and assume that the number is correct.

I put it at 0 percent.

Hail Big Brother.

You do not know the difference between a having monopoly status and being the most successful among a number of competitors. They are two different things. You must be one of those who gets their political slogans and knowledge of economics from bumper stickers and rock videos...

Steve has the power to shake up the industry... and he will. Whether 0% chance or 25%... Let's what and learn.

Ok here's the deal. If record companies won't support the drop of DRM, people should stick with Apple. Since there's is the easiest DRM to strip. More power to Apple.

I think that Munster is right, if we're talking about *this* year. The RIAA has proven remarkably clueless, and it will take quite a while for them to give up their habit of treating their customers as the enemy.

-jcr