http://articles.bluepec.com en-us info@bluepec.com The world's three largest record labels have been negotiating to offer their music without DRM in the iTunes music store for the first time ever, according to Cnet sources who couldn't confirm that the labels had agreed to ditch digital rights management (DRM) altogether. At least they're talking about it.And one of these labels, Warner Music Group, appears to be doing more than just talking. Some of its music has already appeared in the iTunes store in DRM-free form. Could the rest be soon to f http://articles.bluepec.com/more-drmfree-major-label-music-sneaks-onto-itunes_43.html 27-11-2008 Since MP3s first became popular a decade ago, music industry executives have obsessed over this question: when would digital music revenue finally surpass compact disc sales?For Atlantic Records, the label that in years past has delivered artists like Ray Charles, John Coltrane and Led Zeppelin, that time, apparently, is now. Atlantic, a unit of Warner Music Group, says it has reached a milestone that no other major record label has hit: more than half of its music sales in the United States are http://articles.bluepec.com/digital-sales-surpass-cds-at-atlantic_39.html 26-11-2008 The new digital music service co-founded by Bono, which promises fans exclusive music by major artists in exchange for $5 a month to fight AIDS, will launch on the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day. MSN will host Monday's kickoff event for (RED) Wire, an extension of the (RED) organization founded by the U2 frontman and Bobby Shriver to combat AIDS in Africa. New songs and videos from U2, Coldplay, Death Cab for Cutie, Dixie Chicks, Jay-Z, John Legend and Sheryl Crow will be available at red.ms http://articles.bluepec.com/subscriptions-to-red-wire-digital-music-will-fight-aids_36.html 25-11-2008 Nokia is gearing toward launching its phone bundled with music offering to Asia. At the recently held Mobile Asia Congress in Macau, head of entertainment and communities for Nokia China, T C Pan, said they [Nokia] are working on the implementation details with the labels to bring Comes With Music (CWM) to Asia and Greater China.I believe country by country CWM will be launched in Asia and Greater China next year and the year after, just like the launches of Nokia Music Store, he said.However, P http://articles.bluepec.com/nokia-coming-with-music-to-asia_32.html 24-11-2008 High Definition Content Protectionthe annoying DRM-y thing that's supposed to stop people from copying hi-def stuff as it travels over a card-display connector has apparently, and unfortunately, come to Apple's MacBooks. HDCP is now included on new MacBooks to protect iTunes Store media, though it seems that only some of the content is actually HDCP-aware. A high school teacher was unable to play Hellboy 2 on his classroom's projector with his new aluminium MacBook, but other purchased media (su http://articles.bluepec.com/new-macbooks-have-hdcp-gives-itunes-purchases-less-freedom_20.html 18-11-2008 The first "all you can eat" music download service that lets users copy tracks to any device with no strings attached has launched in the UK.Datz will charge £100 for a USB security key that gives people access to its Music Lounge site for a year.Unlike rivals Napster and Rhapsody, all tracks are in MP3 format, which means they can be burned to CD and played on an iPod or any digital music player.Users can keep tracks they have downloaded when the subscription ends.Datz boss Michael Richardson s http://articles.bluepec.com/datz-launches-mp3-download-deal_3.html 31-10-2008 The Beatles made their first foray into digital music yesterday with a video game that will allow fans to play along to their hits.The surviving members of the band have been resistant to new technology, refusing to allow their music to be downloaded from online stores such as iTunes. Instead, in the bands first significant move into the digital world, fans will be able to transform into any member of the quartet and sing, drum and strum along with their favourite Beatles songs.Sir Paul McCartne http://articles.bluepec.com/all-you-need-is-a-digital-guitar-to-join-the-beatles_2.html 31-10-2008