The Straits Times has a report that to battle illegal music downloading, the RIAS and the music industry is getting young people to download legal music by offering discounts on legit music for university students on online music store Soundbuzz. Soundbuzz is one of two legal music download sites in Singapore. The other is ;Play. However, there's one thing that is oft overlooked. The files offered on these music sites are DRM protected in the form of WMA files. This means that those cool teens with an iPod cannot play music from these stores. Does anyone else see the problem/irony here? Apple's iPod is one of the most popular digital music player ever, but if you're using it in Singapore and listening to music, you're probably listening to illegal downloaded tunes. Unless you're only listening to tunes with a Creative Common license or you're talking about those bands that are explicitly allowing their music to be shared and downloaded, which probably does not include your regular pop artistes ruling the airwaves and the pop charts. You may be listening to Podcasts, which is another story entirely.
Remember, previously, someone pointed out that ripping music off your own CDs is also illegal in Singapore. Now, that is really strange right? In short, for Apple iPod users in Singapore to be using their device legally, they can only listen to Podcasts and other "free" downloaded music. You're actually not suppose to listen to Green Day, U2, MayDay, and any other music with labels who are members of the RIAS.
Ah... the whole farce and perils of legal-vs-illegal music and the usage of digital music players in Singapore. We live in a ridiculous world!
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