Radiohead Frequency Problems

For the first time since who knows when, I've bought an album destined to be #1 on the day it came out. I had downloaded most of Hail to the Thief a few months ago but I wanted the package, the lyrics, the sequenced experience, so I forked over the cash.

Now, this, apparently, will come as news to Americans, but the release of the album to the rest of world is a copy-protected CD that can only be played on your computer using player software that comes on the CD.

I had heard about this yesterday just before I bought the disk and, on reflection, it seemed a reasonable step for the band/company to have taken. They want to stop piracy of their material and they give you the means to play the CD. The only piss off is for iPod users (to which group I do not belong) who were sold an expensive MP3 player on the promise that they could legally MP3 their music and then haul it around with them.

Well, in fact, the reality of the disk is worse than the promise. The player software is not working properly on Macs, hesitating every 5 seconds or so. I immediately called EMI Canada and was cut off while on hold. On the second attempt, I was told by the Quality Control department that they would replace the disk as soon as they figured out what to do. She directed me to the website where I was to send in a report (that would come right back to her) including my e-mail address. Text typed into this online form was unreadable on IE Mac and the submit button didn't work. I eventually got the e-mail to her after two hours of phone tag.

I've heard that the protected CDs also have trouble on older CD players. In Argentina, furious fans cannot play it because they mostly have the same CD players they had 10 years ago. Hey, these second world countries better get on the consumer bandwagon and fast if they want to be part of cutting edge culture!

Anyway, we managed to crack the protection for all but three songs and I am now listening to MP3s. Just like I was a month ago.

More on Thieves

Followup to this morning's post on the copy-protection on Radiohead's Hail to the Thief.

Prompted by scapegoatee's statement, "There's no way I'm going to go out and buy crippled merchandise," I am re-connecting with my natural state of anger at record companies (and all other giant conglomerates for that matter). The model that is clearly bubbling under the surface is that you should buy the CD for $18 and, if you want the MP3s, buy the new copy-limited ones from iTunes music store (or future equivalents) for $1.50/tune. If I want the whole album and I want to play it in both formats, I can do so for $38 instead of, say $17 for the same thing a year ago.

As was noted on one bulletin board, the record companies claim that part of the reason for high CD prices is that their products are being pirated. Well, loves, if you're going to peddle copy-protected merch, you should drop the price to $10, shouldn't you? Some enlightened software companies (e.g. WaveMetrics, creators of Igor Pro) offer software licences that allow you to install two copies: one for your office and one for you home or laptop. This policy recognizes how the product is actually used.

Big record companies are repellant and greedy. They are not good for artists, the public or music in general.