OK I had no less than 5 emails, 2 MSN messages, and a PM on ZuneUser.com alerting me to this issue over the past few days so I figured I'd better get off my butt and blog on it.
So apparently it's official. Record companies don't like Zune Users
. In recent tests done by zunerama and zunethoughts it was discovered that as of this moment, if you download the top 50 downloaded songs on Zune Pass, create a playlist, and try to share them with another Zune. 29 out of 50 of those songs will not transfer. They will be unable to be shared and generate an error stating they can't be sent due to "rights restrictions".
Looking at those results it appears that when you download songs from popular artists you stand about a 50/50 chance that you'll be able to share those songs with other Zune users for the 3 day play. Welcome to the social indeed... :censored:
Now we already know that
Universal Music Group (UMG) gets a fee for every Zune sold as it is. It is also my understanding that they were in on the behind closed door meetings that resulted in the 3 day limit as well. But to add insult to injury Sony Music and UMG they get to dictate which artists you are allowed to share via the wifi feature on the device and service you paid for? I'm sorry but wasn't part of the reason behind the current cease fire between record labels and digital media player manufacturers that it helps promote artists albums and increase sales of MP3 downloads and CDs? Is it our fault the record industries are trying to hold on to dated CD technology for no other reason than that they can charge you more for it? :nono:
But apparently ranting about this topic will prove to be a futile undertaking simply because the deal has already been signed and the units are being shipped. The least Microsoft can do at this point is flag :surrender: the songs that cannot be shared in a firmware upgrade. :beta1:
Really looking for your thoughts on this one because I think this bites! But am I being insensitive to the record companies and artists?