[mtgx]

> "Amazon's MP3 store, despite launching with cheaper and DRM-free music, has never been able to make a serious dent in iTunes' market share".

Maybe because iTunes selling DRM'ed music for so long helped them gain that market lock-in, just like it helped Amazon get the same lock-in with DRM ebooks.

If publishers knew what's best for them, they would force Amazon to offer DRM-free books before it's too late, and the process can't be reversed anymore.

[giulianob]

I think it's simpler than that. Most people don't have a clue about DRM. What they know is if they want to listen to music they go buy an iPod and buy music on iTunes. It's more about brand recognition IMO.

[raldi]

They may not have a clue about DRM, but what they do understand is, "If I switch to <competing thing>, I won't be able to use it to listen to my existing music collection, or read any of the books I already bought, or run any of the apps I downloaded?"

And that is all caused by DRM.

[chc]

Except iPod remained just as dominant even after going DRM-free, so that doesn't appear to be the issue.

[raldi]

The iPod isn't as dominant as ever, iTunes is only partially DRM-free (many songs still aren't available for sale that way), existing songs in your collection don't get unlocked, and users have to either pay per song or subscribe to iTunes Match to unlock them.