Tape store. DGM World. 2026.
January 29, 2006 Robert Fripp’s music download store
After perusing Robert Fripp’s comments on Windows Vista, I browsed around his site and ended up purchasing two download albums, a King Crimson concert from October 94, and a ProjeKct One performance from December 97. This is a first for me; I’ve never previously purchased a music download. Fripp’s downloads have two big advantages over the market leader. First, they are for sale in Flac format, which is lossless compression, unlike the lossy compression of an iTunes purchase. Second, they are not DRM-protected, so I’m not locked into iPod or iTunes for playback. I have no intention of ever buying from the iTunes Music Store.
At $12.95 these downloads cost a similar price to a CD. By way of comparison, the Discipline Global Mail Order site offers CDs for $14.00. That makes the download arguably slightly over-priced, but there is plenty of room for argument: the license and the uncompressed digital music files really are the essence of the CD. Incidentally, you can also purchase MP3’s for a slightly lower price, but to my mind Flac is better value.
From a technical point of view, Fripp’s download site operates according to straightforward rules. After purchasing and activating your download, you can download the files during a 72-hour window. If you discover a corrupt download a few days later that could be annoying, but the rules are clear.
What license are you buying? This is more fuzzy, probably deliberately so. Here’s the quote: There are no technological restrictions or DRM (Digital Rights Management) applied to any of the music files downloaded from DGM Live. Users are bound by the Terms of Service agreement which accompanies their purchase, and all applicable copyright laws apply to the music distributed through the site.
DGM Live may succeed to the degree that its users refrain from illegally distributing the files they purchase.
The trouble with the Terms of Service is that it covers the entire web site as well as music downloads. It seems to prohibit copying; yet cover CD art is provided and the help files refer to CD burning so one presumes this is permitted. I sort-of assume that I can make reasonable personal use of the downloads. Can I make several CDs for use at home and in the car? Could I lend a burnt CD to a friend, if she promised not to copy it? When I die, will it be OK for my family to play the CDs? These kinds of questions don’t seem to be answered. Perhaps it is just as well.
I think this trust-based music retailing will work well for Fripp. I’m not sure how well the model would scale to the entire music industry. Are we stuck with lock-in DRM? I still buy CDs, but they won’t be around for ever. Finally, kudos to Fripp for making some excellent musical archives available on such fair terms.
Firstly, and kudos to David Singleton, whose BootlegTV notion was the point-of- seeing that made DGM Live possible; and to Eric, Sid, Hugh, Alex & Toby who operate much of the site’s nuts & bolts.
Secondly, in response to Tim’s I sort-of assume that I can make reasonable personal use of the downloads the quick answer is yes. The longer answer is act rightly. No manner of formal prohibition, appeals to decency, and presentation of a reasoned viewpoint & argument seated in years of experience, can affect the behaviour of anyone without courtesy & distanced from conscience. Even courtesy & an engaged conscience are no guarantees of conduct, only part of the foundation that supports Right Action.
It would be possible to implement various DRM strategies; but better to adopt the DGM ethos of assuming goodwill. There are obviously cases where goodwill is strained by selfishness & active hostility (cf the several years of postings to ET), and exceptional cases where goodwill is violated by deliberate theft (this is not conscious theft which, properly, is governed by conscience). DGM addresses acts of ill-will in various ways, in proportion to the degree of intentionality. But, where there is goodwill, act rightly works for me.
[Excerpt from RF’s Diary - Thursday 2nd. February, 2006]