Coldplay Indeed

Here’s a cute story about the future of your listening displeasure. Via BoingBoing, Coldplay’s new CD comes with a list of interesting usage guidelines, which most buyers will probably only discover after they’ve purchased the CD.

Here are some gems: "This CD can't be burnt onto a CD or hard disc, nor can it be converted to an MP3" and "This CD may not play in DVD players, car stereos, portable players, game players, all PCs and Macintosh PCs." Best of all, the insert explains that this is all "in order for you to enjoy a high quality music experience." Now, that's quality.

Looking at that list, and assuming the disc wouldn’t play in my DVD player, car stereo, or PC, the only place I’d be able to listen to it is in my under-cabinet model in the kitchen, which has the crappiest sound and speakers. Although I enjoy some music while preparing dinner, which, admittedly, does take me a bit of time since I don’t even have a microwave, no less a rice cooker, I don’t particularly care for the idea of only being able to listen to a CD in one room of my house.

It's amazing how the labels always seem to come up with new ways of screwing artists: if they're not cheating them out of royalties, they're systematically alienating their fan-base.

In the end, I think labels are really just screwing themselves. Established bands will eventually get tired of being the air staving off the inevitable death rattle of record labels, and realize that all the services labels provide can be had ala carte with the help of a good independent manager. Once they find a way to do it without labels, the music industry will finally shed its outdated structure, and both bands and fans will be better served.

(Crossposted at Ezra's place.)