I thought it would be useful to put together a little article about DRM as it is a major discussion point in the field of download services. Why DRM? Good question. Music labels wish to control the distribution of their music. They want to get their music to the most people but they want all these people to pay for it. This is currently done with software license control, or as it has become known Digital Rights Management (DRM).

Typical DRM software allows you to download a music file, but only allow you (your pc(s) and portable music device) to play that file. This is accomplished in a variety of ways. The music file is normally in a certain format (not your common mp3), you may have to use only provided music players and you may have to use certain download software that keeps track of your music collection.

An example of DRM in action is the most popular download service iTunes. The music download files are in AAC format using DRM known as Fairplay. Not many portable players can play AAC format and only Apple's iPod itself can play protected files. Also songs can be played on only five computers at a time, and users cannot edit or sample the songs they purchased.

Of course with a variety of music services and hundreds of portable music devices, DRM leads to many problems. Depending on what music player you have can restrict what services you can use and then once you have bought music using a certain DRM format, this will limit what players you can purchse in the future without having to purchase songs again in a new format. That is why i purchase DRM free music, and maybe you should too!

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