Just read over on CrunchGear that an Riaa Spokesperson has gone on record saying “DRM is dead isn’t it?”   (Oh yeah, DRM = Digital Rights Management).

I’d suggest heading over to CG to read on, but I’d like to throw a Sound Guy spin on this.

I’m not going to say I downloaded a lots and lots of pirated music when I was in highschool (1999-2003), but I will say that every single person I knew – even ones still using dial-up – knew HOW to find music for free.

Even after the big push to put DRM on CDs and in the iTunes Store – it’s simple enough to get around.  Seriously – just about anyone can do it any number of ways.  Not saying it’s right, just saying it’s easy.

I honestly believe that DRM tended to just point the potential audience of recording artists AWAY from “legitamate” channels, and built up a feeling of “I don’t trust you, you don’t trust me” between artists and audiences.

Being a Sound Guy – That SUCKS.  My work involves helping artists turn their creative goals into something real (and hopefully saleable) but if we actively work towards tainting the relationship between artists and audiences, we’re KILLING our industry.

Anyway, we all know DRM hasn’t accomplished much, and I’m happy to see it go.  I’d just like to stop talking about it so often, and focus more on what’s important.  Making music that has value and means something to people.  I really believe that when an artist creates something great, lots people – even the people who know how to find it for free – are willing and happy to pay for it.

Just my two cents.