Eminem, Universal
and Interscope Records are in negotiations to make Eminem’s 3rd LP, "The
Eminem Show," copy proof. If approved, the LP would be the most significant
release embedded with the technology, being adopted by major labels to combat
consumer piracy. Universal is using technology developed by an Israeli based
company, Midbar.
Consumers have complained that the copy protected
CD’s only play on home stereos. The CD’s have had documented problems playing
on personal walkman’s, computer systems and car stereo’s. The labels have acknowledged
that they are aware of these problems, and that they are developing better standards
for the copy protected CD’s. If Eminem and the label’s come to an agreement,
they would need to do so within the next two weeks to meet the manufacturing
deadlines for the June 3rd release date.
Universal has also limited the availability of
Eminem’s single, "Without Me," to ensure it does not "fall into
the wrong hands." The music industry has long blamed file swapping services
such as Kazaa, Morpheus, Napster and Audiogalaxy for a sharp decline in CD purchasing
and a rise in bootlegging. A survey released by Jupiter Media Matrix, on Friday
says that Internet users who download songs for free from these unauthorized
services are more likely to increase their music purchases that Internet users
who don’t download music at all.
Thirty four percent of all peer to peer users
said they spent more on music than they did before they used the services, the
report said. 15 percent said they spent less. Those online who didn’t use the
services at all said that they were less likely to spend at all.
"The Internet is the greatest thing that
ever happened to the music industry, and they’re just missing out on cashing
in on it," Aram Sinnreich told Reuters. Sinnreich authored the report,
which conflicted with a survey the Recording Industry Association Of America
published. Their report concluded that Internet downloads did take away music
sales.