Song/BMG Rant

Last night I made a little shopping trip to get some normal ear buds since I think my current ones are the cause of my ear problems. My old ones fit right into the ear canal which I'm sure isn't good for getting rid of wax.

I picked up a nice little inexpensive set from The Sony Store. They kinda match my iPod since they are white with translucent yellow/green plastic on the ear buds themselves. I went to FutureShop first but didn't see a pair that I liked. While in FutureShop I saw Switchfoot's new CD "Nothing Is Sound" for $9.99. It didn't take me long to decide whether to buy it or not.

Once I got home though, things started to turn ugly. I popped the CD into my computer, ready to import the tracking using iTunes so I could put them on my iPod. All of a sudden a user agreement pops up.

What the? A user agreement?

Okay fine. I'm not going to do anything illegal with the music so sure, I'll agree... without reading the agreement as usual. Next thing I know it's installing software for playing the CD.

Software?? I didn't ask for any software.

I close that down ASAP and open iTunes only to find that the CD doesn't show up. So I double-click the CD to start up it's own software. This software not only plays the CD, but let's you copy the CD and import the songs onto your computer. Cool right? NOT. It'll only make Windows Media files and Sony's proprietary digital format, neither of which will play on my iPod.

Needless to say I'm getting pissed off. So I go to Switchfoot's forums, ready to write up a nastly little post. After a little searching I see a post by one of the band members apologizing for the CD copy protection. He also posted a work around. So my anger subsided a little to see that the band had nothing to do with this. I try the work around for PCs and the tracks I get are all distorted. That little program that the CD installed when I popped it in adds crap to the tracks if you rip them with something other itself. Argh. Luckily the big all knowing companies never thing of writing this kinda junk for Macs. So I brought my CD into work today and importing the tracks onto my iMac and then onto my iPod. Thank you Apple!

And as for you Sony/BMG. See if I ever buy another of your CDs. Pulling something like this makes me want to pirate your music just to spite you. Maybe it's time I start buying tracks from the iTunes music store which means no money for you since your artists aren't on there.

And to all my friends and loyal readers - beware the CDs you buy from major music labels. If the CD cover or back mentions that the CD is "Content Protected" then you'll run into the same problems as I did if you're looking to import the music to your computer or iPod. If a license agreement pops up when you insert a CD then read it carefully. Or just click decline so it won't install any special software. Or better yet, buy a Mac! ;)

Matthew.