(Covered by: p2pnet, MP3Newswire)
It is great when a musician and a label reaches out to a fan. I have been a fan of the Barenaked Ladies for a number of years, but have not purchased any albums since 2000 because they got caught in my boycott of major labels. Their label, Nettwerk Music Group, was listed as a member of the major label monopolist lobby group the CRIA, and I had decided that I would not pay money to companies that were lobbying so hard to attack my rights as an independent creator and user.
You might have read my recent question about whether Barenaked on a stick was DRM-free. DRM does not protect "copyright" related rights as often claimed, but is a use of a "technical measure" to digitally enforce often hidden contract/licensing terms. If adequately accountable and transparent is is unlikely these contract/licensing terms would be enforceable, with some of them being plainly illegal.
Before the question hit p2pnet I posted to my own blog, and got an answer from lead singer Steven Page.
Indeed, the whole point of the USB stick release is to give our fans content that they can play wherever they like. DRM holds people back from being able to use the music as they want it, and from being able to use it as the creators intended. We in BNL endeavour to never use copy-protection of any sort (unless, of course, it's foisted on us by the reatiler a la ITMS - but it will always be available elsewhere in a "vendor-neutral" standard file format).
Cheers,
sp
While I was skeptical that this was Steven Page, a little investigation proved that it was who the message said it was.
We also received a comment on p2pnet from Megan Healy of Nettwerk Records
On behalf of the label, I can tell you the answer is that BNL USB does NOT contain any:
DRM
SPYWARE
ADWARE
VIRUSES
HIDDEN SOFTWAREThe majority of the content is in vendor-neutral standard file formats. Specifically non-DRM MP3 formats. Although the videos are Apple QuickTime but they do not contain any DRM. Same is true for downloads sold directly from our website, www.nettmusic.com. We are all about offering DRM-free alternatives!
Megan Healy
Nettwerk Records
megan at nettwerk dot com
I ordered Barenaked on a Stick on November 28, and will write a review once I receive it. It is a great seasonal gift to feel I can purchase from Barenaked Ladies again without feeling I'm funding an industry attacking my rights.
I will be interested to see whether the band or their label will be involved in stopping the attempt by the old-economy majors to push anti-circumvention laws through Canadian parliament (with the help of misinformed politicians). If we can get more musicians and labels to speak out, we might be able to bring the music industry to one that not only are more musicians able to make a living, but also where music fans no longer have to feel that their rights and their computers are under attack.