Hello!

As a long time fan of your music, I am eager to buy your latest album. Since I would only play it on my computer and MP3 player, there is no need for me to buy the physical CD: I only need the electronic files. However, it seems that the online retailers (puretracks.com  and i-tunes at least) only have versions with DRM (Digital Rights Management) on them. This makes it so the song can only be played on some supported devices, a single computer, and otherwise restrict use. Since I don't use an MP3 player which supports DRM, and two computers, these DRM enabled songs are useless to me.

I am asking that you consider releasing your next album (or current ones? :) ) without DRM. If it is not in your power as to how it is released, could you please ask the people who make that call to not use DRM in the future. I would love to buy your new album online today (saving the cost and environmental impact of shipping, CD production, and physical store space), but sadly I must wait and buy the physical CD so I can rip it and play it the way I want to.

Thank you for your consideration of this,

Brian.

Have you checked the GBS.com store to see what you can get there?

Also, I suggest that you send this post as an email to help@greatbigsea.com

At least that way the message will get into the right hands at GBS.com -

good luck!

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Helen




I'm goin' Straight to Hell-On-Wheels!

Hello!

Through the Great Big Sea store, one can buy the full physical CD, but to buy it in an electronic format one is forwarded (from http://www.greatbigsea.com/music/discography/fortunesFavour.aspx) to a page which launches i-Tunes on one's computer. So, I don't know how one can buy the unprotected electronic song from GBS or anywhere else.

Also, someone sent me a message suggesting a file format converter. I have programs to convert between multiple file formats; however, as I understand it, one must first strip the DRM out of the iTunes file before one could convert it. When it has the DRM still in the file, I strongly suspect one would have significant difficulty in converting it. (Not to mention the new law which the Canadian government is proposing which would make breaking the DRM, or even having the software to do so, illegal and subject to a huge fine).

So, as a fan, I would just like to give my money to the artists and get a nice quality recording I can listen to. :) I will forward my initial message to the webmaster, as suggested, in pursuit of this lofty goal. :)

Thank you to everyone who offered suggestions! Please let me know if you know a good (and legal!) solution!

Brian.

Hi.

Can Canadians order from Amazon.com or just Amazon.ca? If you can order from Amazon.com, try going there.

Amazon.com has the CD available as mp3 download, and Amazon's downloads are DRM-free and are pretty high quality: 256 kps.

 

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- Michele, from Long Island

Amazon's DRM-free?  I had no clue!  Thanks!

Love, Columbine (who only has one computer, but likes to make mix CDs for traveling) 

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Whack Fall The Day
Nick

Hi Nick,

We are here reading suggestions and questions as often as we can, but we like getting e-mails, too. There's a lot of discussion on the forums, so occasionally a great suggestion might get missed. Sending us an e-mail is just an extra precaution and an easy way for us to forward it to the right people. It's not mean to replace the Suggestion Box, though, so keep the suggestions coming here, too!

-nico

PS: GreatBigSea.com does sell DRM-free downloads, which you can find in the Store.

Seems redundant but thank you for the clarification.

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Whack Fall The Day
Nick

Computers go screwy.  Hard drives fail.  Mp3 players get sat on, smashed or lost.  I buy the CD or the DVD, back it up to a hard drive, make a copy to CD or DVD then not worry about losing anything.....and I have a lossless CD or DVD to play on my computer, in the car or on my home stereo.  Plus I can say I support the lads.