As others have pointed out, the universal selection of both commercial and home-made music was Napster's true appeal, not that all the music was free to download. Sadly, the record companies just haven't grokked this yet.
Big record labels want more than just the ability to sell mediocre, overpriced collections of music... they want control. Regulating music with a physical CD gives the record companies control over distribution, pricing, content, everything.
Systems like Napster put the control back in the hands of the people. It's that sense of control, convenience and availability that gives the P2P networks their appeal. Now if Apple Computer's iMusic service offered every possible song or album I could think of, then I would gladly pay 99 cents per download.
... but this isn't really possible because only a network of individuals, not a centralized authority could possibly provide that much eclectic content.
Instead of offering freedom of choice, however, the record companies manipulate their customers into buying the content of *their* choice... mainstream junk that I don't care about. That's another reason why the commercial download services, including iMusic, can't compete with P2P networks... the offerings are too mainstream and governed by the marketing dictates of corporations.
(no subject)
Big record labels want more than just the ability to sell mediocre, overpriced collections of music... they want control. Regulating music with a physical CD gives the record companies control over distribution, pricing, content, everything.
Systems like Napster put the control back in the hands of the people. It's that sense of control, convenience and availability that gives the P2P networks their appeal. Now if Apple Computer's iMusic service offered every possible song or album I could think of, then I would gladly pay 99 cents per download.
... but this isn't really possible because only a network of individuals, not a centralized authority could possibly provide that much eclectic content.
Instead of offering freedom of choice, however, the record companies manipulate their customers into buying the content of *their* choice... mainstream junk that I don't care about. That's another reason why the commercial download services, including iMusic, can't compete with P2P networks... the offerings are too mainstream and governed by the marketing dictates of corporations.