For most music educators the iTunes store is the most common choice for purchasing music for use in the classroom. The glue that
has kept most users attached to iTunes has partly been the seamless
integration that the iPod has with the iTunes store. But despite being
the number one music retailer on the Internet, there is still one major
problem with iTunes.
All of the music sold through iTunes is encrypted
and copy protected with Digital Rights Management (DRM). The vast
majority of purchased through iTunes can only be played on computers
that are authorized (users can authorize up to five computers per
account). At the same time the music can be loaded only onto an iPod
(other MP3 players cannot read the iTunes DRM format).
Alternatives to iTunes That Do Not Use Digital Rights Management (DRM)
There was a time when downloading music without DRM restrictions was an illegal process. Today, iTunes stands as one of the few retailers that still sell tracks
with DRM encryption, preventing users from truly using the tracks on
any device they choose without the hassle of burning a CD then
re-ripping the music into MP3 format. Other retailers are breaking out
of this anti-customer model and selling music at low prices but with
the added benefit of being free of any copy protection.
Several web sites now provide low cost music track downloads that are bereft of any DRM encryption. Sites such as Amazon Music, Yahoo Music, eMusic, and many others all provide music tracks for purchase at comparable prices that are not encrypted. Many other sites are converting to DRM free models as well.
What are the Benefits of Using DRM Free Music?
What does this lack of copy protection mean to the music educator?
A teacher can load the music onto any player he or she chooses
There is no need to burn to CD in order to transfer and play the music on a computer without iTunes installed
The tracks are easily edited and modified using any audio editing software
No need to deal with authorizing a computer before it can play the music.
While it is not likely that iTunes will shut down any time soon,
if Apple decided to shut down the authorization servers all of the
music purchased through iTunes would become unplayable.
With the market changing as it is there is simply no reason not to
consider moving to a DRM free music retailer such as Amazon. Selection
of tracks is comparable and ease of purchase is also quick and easy.
Plus all of the music purchased from DRM free music sites can also be
loaded and played on an iPod just like any track purchased from iTunes.
Anyone that is just getting started with downloading music to a portable MP3 player or is
just beginning to build a music collection should definitely consider
avoiding iTunes and instead going for the flexibility and choice of DRM
free music vendors. Doing so makes listening to and enjoying purchased
tracks much easier and much more practical for users that use music in
the many varied ways that music educators do every day.
Excellent! Teach the kids to whom you are training as musicians that their work will be stolen off the net by teachers.
Where in the article does it say anything like that? Please don't think that I was suggesting we buy a trakc and the copy it for every kid in the class. That was not my intent at all. Let me explain...
Because a track is DRM free does not mean that it is illegal. As I said in the article almost all retailers (except for iTunes and a few others) are switching to selling DRM free music.
For a music teacher this is important because of the ways we use this music to augment the lessons that we are teaching. Being locked into using only iTunes or an iPod to play a piece of music is very limiting when you consider the many excellent audio tools that we can use to teach our students. Those tools are unavailable if a teacher is using music that is locked down by Digital Rights Management.
If a DRM free version of a song is available and at the same price, a music teacher would be much better off to purchase the DRM free song.
Not to mention the fact that a lot of companies that sold music with DRM are now switching over to DRM free and TURNING OFF THEIR VALIDATION SERVERS! Anyone that bought music through WalMart or Sony will be unable to validate the licenses on the music tracks they bought. That means if they get a new computer or if they have to reinstall windows that music will be gone for good unless they burn it all to a CD first.
For most music educators the iTunes store is the most common choice for purchasing music for use in the classroom. The glue that
has kept most users attached to iTunes has partly been the seamless
integration that the iPod has with the iTunes store. But despite being
the number one music retailer on the Internet, there is still one major
problem with iTunes. 
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Thanks for the great posts. Keep up the blogging. I thoroughly enjoy it!
Amy
Where in the article does it say anything like that? Please don't think that I was suggesting we buy a trakc and the copy it for every kid in the class. That was not my intent at all. Let me explain...
Because a track is DRM free does not mean that it is illegal. As I said in the article almost all retailers (except for iTunes and a few others) are switching to selling DRM free music.
For a music teacher this is important because of the ways we use this music to augment the lessons that we are teaching. Being locked into using only iTunes or an iPod to play a piece of music is very limiting when you consider the many excellent audio tools that we can use to teach our students. Those tools are unavailable if a teacher is using music that is locked down by Digital Rights Management.
If a DRM free version of a song is available and at the same price, a music teacher would be much better off to purchase the DRM free song.