Recording Industry Continues to Prove They Are Idiots
XM Satellite Radio now as unit called the “Inno” which is essentially an audio-only PVR (or I guess you would call it a PAR). To the totally uninitiated this is Tivo for your satellite radio with even fewer features. Now, in a stunning move of stupidity, the RIAA is suing XM over the Inno Device and XM’s license payments. The RIAA position is essentially this:
The head of the music industry’s trade group said the XM Satellite device is legally indistinguishable from iPods and other portable music players that work with downloading services.
I think I am going to gag. Indestinguishable? We have XM in our car and let me tell you. I can certainly audibly discern between an mp3 (at 128K) and XM. XM honestly doesn’t sound all that great. I love having all the options and consistency on a road trip. But to say that recording a song that is broadcast over XM is the same as having that song on an iPod is insane! I was just thinking the other day about how XM has exposed me to songs that I now would consider downloading because I want a slightly higher quality version and something that I can hold onto. But again, if this is the way they (the RIAA) is going to be about it, it’s just a big turn off. Next they’ll be going after Tivo because you could technically Tivo an audio only channel and listen to the same song over and over again. Oh no! What’s the world coming to? Instead of embracing technology and change, the RIAA continues to buck it at every turn.
Technorati Tags: XM Satellite Radio, RIAA