Dave Matthews Band addresses iTunes concerns

WTF has happened to this guy and his band? Man, they have become such turds over the past 5 years.

Perhaps people should contact them and ask that they not use ridiculous copy protection on their CDs.

Why are so many Mac "news" sites reporting a problem with inporting songs when there is no problem on the Mac??????????

I had no problem importing the music and this is from the Dave Matthews site:

If you have a Mac computer you can copy the songs using your iTunes Player as you would normally do. MacNN please do some research instead of spreading FUD.

Hello??? Done. No problems!!!

... I know there are a lot of issues importing on Windows as the last 3 CD's I've tried won't work ... How many others out there resort to curses when it doesn't work, and like me, didn't know any work arounds?

There are no such thing as 'protected' cds.

The crap that is called that are improperly mastered CDs and should ALWAYS be returned as defective merchandise.

Weird logic. DMB makes a disc that's deliberately incompatible with the leading online music service (Apple), then blames the music service because it's incompatible. What a load. And they're painting Microsoft as the poor hapless victim. It really is hard to stomach Microsoft's lack of a grip.

First, they include a link to contact apple, but what about a link to contact them, saying how much you dislike copy protected CDs. Something like "Hey, I was going to buy your album, but because of its stupid copy protection, I decided to just download it via bittorrent. I figure the money you're 'saving' from defeating the pirates more then will make up for my copying of the music. Wait, how could I download it if its protected? Wait, you mean the protection is useless and pointless, just making it harder for the general public to legally use and listen to their music, but doing nothing to battle the real piracy that costs you all are your money? Oh, then why in the hell did you OK this crap DRM?"

The crap that is called that are improperly mastered CDs and should ALWAYS be returned as defective merchandise.

They are only improperly mastered or can be called 'defective' if they actually have the CD logo on them. If they don't have the official logo, or technically call themselves a CD or compact disc, its hard to argue its defective. Based on that definition DVDs are defective because they won't play in a CD player.

Why are so many Mac "news" sites reporting a problem with inporting songs when there is no problem on the Mac??????????

Maybe because they see themselves as "Apple" news sites, not Mac news sites. A "Mac" news site would have to deal solely with Mac stuff, and thus, for example, not really say anything about the iPod, which isn't a Mac product. Geesh.

Finally, can someone tell me what the point of this copy protection is? You can copy the protected files to Windows Media Player. Then burn a CD? Hello? I thought the whole point of the protected files was to keep people from making copies. What's the point if you can make copies?

Oh, and not that I've tried it (buy CDs, esp. copy protected ones? yeah, that's funny, esp. since I'm still stuck in the 70s-80s - current music sucks, you know who you are!), but supposedly you can work around some of these copy protections by just holding down the shift key when putting in the CD (since the CD has software which installs and prevents you from reading the music portion). Like I said, I could be wrong, but this was how some were done. Of course, it might be MS who's helping out, noticing these disks are marked protected and preventing you from reading the music portion of them.

In one word: Hogwash.

The problem is not a lack Apple support for Microsoft's proprietary WMA DRM crap, the problem is the use of Microsoft's proprietary WMA DRM to deprive customers of the rights afforded them by Copyright laws.

Dave Matthews is a total a**hole. He & his record company decide to make a compact disc that doesn't work in people's computers, and then they blame it on Apple? This guy's music absolutely sucks (he hasn't had a good album in over 10 years), and he's a JERK-OFF to boot.

I find your statement "Please note an easier and more acceptable solution requires cooperation from Apple, who we have already reached out to in hopes of addressing this issue." disingenuous.

Your record label has chosen to distribute DMB music on a modified disc that cannot be properly termed "CD." These discs use a copy-protection scheme that pointedly supports the Microsoft juggernaut, but leaves the actual fans (some of whom are computer users) struggling - many feel confused and betrayed. As a result, your devoted fans, who are also paying customers, are unable to listen to their music in ways they are accustomed.

In fact, for some, the discs may be useless. I expect there will be returns.

Please note that the protection scheme prevents purchasers from burning reasonable quality mp3s and transferring them to their portable players. Purchasers are allowed to use the manufacturer supplied Windows Media DRM files, however, those files are not compatible with the major portable media player, the iPod.

Who imagined that it was acceptable to release materials useless to owners of playback devices that dominate the market? The various models of iPod account for approximately 90% of the portable player market. Yet this demographic was ignored.

Reaching out to Apple suggests you looked for a mutual solution. Nothing of the sort was attempted. I surmise Apple was given an ultimatum - allow iPods to play WMA files, and we can all get along. If that's what "reaching out" means to your handlers, I request you use your fame and influence to resist the draconian control methods favored by the RIAA.

I read their little page on their web site. Use something other than that lame-ass half dead WMA crap. It's a good thing I don't listen to their crap they call music anyway. I just hate it when Microsoft whores blame Apple for their crapapy technology. Protected "CDs" suck anyway.