CD Recall

October 2, 2005 in Music with 1 Comment

EMI CMG Recalls Switchfoot CD For Copy Protection Settings

Say what? This is not a joke. A compact disc is actually being recalled.

EMI CMG has issued a recall of the Sparrow-manufactured CDs due to a mistake in the settings for the content protection technology placed on the CD.

The controversial technology, now appearing on a rapidly growing number of Sony BMG and EMI CDs, was to limit the number of physical and digital copies consumers could make of the new Switchfoot CD. But according to Leigh Ann Hardie, VP of strategic initiatives and publicity for EMI CMG Label Group, “incorrect setting were used during the CD’s mastering process which inadvertently bars the consumer from making burns or digital copies – a result that was not intended.”

It was only a matter of time before something like this happened, in my opinion. Record companies just don’t get it. We want digital music. We want to be able to download it from the Internet on demand. We want to be able to load it onto our mp3 players. We want to make our own compilation CDs.

Yet all the record companies seem to be concerned about is piracy and how to stop it. They keep trying to invent technologies to limit the copying of music but that doesn’t deter people. The world has a lot of smart people and the Internet is vast. Whatever technology they develop, someone will find a way around it. The record companies would be better served going at the issue another way. My advice to them is to listen to the consumers! Make it easy for us to download music when we want and in the format we want. Allow us to use it how we want, whether it’s on a portable music player or burned CDs. In fact, encourage us to do that. Having our music with us wherever we go will help promote your artists and encourage sales of music. And quit charging us an arm and a leg for those soon to be outdated compact discs. It’s not that difficult, guys. Get with the new era of music! If the price is right for the product offered, we will buy it.

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About Chris: Thirty-something, knowledge seeking, information devouring, Christian technophile living in Northern KY seeking to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with my God.


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One Response to “CD Recall”

  1. Jeremy October 2, 2005 at 00:42 #

    No kidding. I bet they spend as much money trying to develop the technology to stop piracy as they lose to piracy.