DMB encourages Windows users to bypass the DRM

this is stupid. the album was out on P2P BEFORE it was even released on cd.....months before.. in nice 192k mp3 LAME format without reencoding.....

Honestly, and with as much respect as I can express... The album is not good, to put it lightly. It might be more logical to call this a publicity stunt to sell a lackluster album. I haven't even attempted to put the album on my iPod and I won't. And then to go and blame Apple for not supporting a system that completely ignores the rights of the consumer...seals the deal. I have purchased my last DMB album. What label are they on? Maybe I don't need to buy from any label that focuses its efforts on limiting consumer choice.

I think the commenters are right here - this is the label's fault, not Apple's. Furthermore, the reason this works fine on a Mac is because we don't have the Windows implementation of Autoplay. I would assume that if you hold the Shift key down while popping that DMB disc in, Windows won't give you that DRM WMA crap and let you rip the CD properly in iTunes if you wish. Haven't tested it, since I'm not in the market for a DMB CD...

As soon as the DMB does something worth buying, I'll take their 'comments' towards Apple remotely seriously.

I, like David, have bought three copies of the White Album (8 track, Album, and CD) and I too like having the CDs so that I can avoid such expenditures in the future. However, I have stopped buying CDs. The price is ridiculous, I can get more bang for my buck by buying online and compiling my own CDs. This also means I have them in two formats (electronic and on CD). Record companies need to realize that the CD is a fading technology and copy protecting it is just going to hasten its demise. I won't buy them.

When the recording industry first licensed Apple to sell a small part of its music catalog at .99 with the restrictions of a small number of authorized computers and playlist burns I have no question that they expected Apple to fail. I am certain the industry intended to use the failure as proof that a fee based digital delivery system wasn't feasible. I am equally certain that the industry intended, in the unlikely event of success, to take the business away from Apple one way or another. Apple had a vision, it took a huge risk, and the result was a huge success. The monopoly, as Nate MC, provides a nice synergy which does more then let Apple maximize its profits. It provides for a seamless interplay between hardware and software. There's a reason why critics scoffingly refer to Microsoft's "Plays for Sure" as "Plays for Maybe". Microsoft doesn't control the entire process - its the same reason that the Macintosh experience is superior to the Windows experience. Be that as it may, I've lived through 45s, LPs, 8 Tracks, CDs, MP3s, and so on. I know the day will come, at some point, when my iTunes music won't be compatible with modern audio technology. I buy CDs right now to maximize my chances of not having to buy my music again. Once you've bought 3 copies of the Beatles White Album you start thinking ahead.

Here's an idea: How about if Dave Matthews "reaches out" to his recording company and tells them "If you use DRM, we're moving to another label"? I'm so sick of musicians and bands blaming everyone but themselves for their own lack of effort.

I believe that DMB is mad at apple because they won't let them make protected aac files to add to their disc in addition to the WMA files. Apple likes their little monopoly for DRMed iPod tunes, and they don't want to let go of the strangle hold. In a free market companies should be allowed to compete on the same level, Apple hasn't show anything "Fair" in FairPlay, HA! +1 pun point!

I guesss I'll just download this album off P2P, instead. No way am I buying an album with DRM on the CD, and I don't buy tracks online, either. Of course, DMB concert recordings are usually much better than the studio albums...

If DRM is here to stay on the CDs themselves, what the record companies could do is have a URL and redemption code to download a copy of the album either from iTMS or in WMA for no additional charge. It would be a drag to have to go online to activate the online download but it beats the current "solution". Of course, Microsoft wouldn't like it since most iPod owners would get the songs from iTMS.