A VC writes how Dave Matthews has successfully began dissing customers fans with DRM included in their new album Stand Up. Usually many of the comments on Amazon regarding the album talk about the songs, naturally. But this time most of the comments are about DRM and how it crashes Windows computers, won’t allow you to rip the songs to your mp3-player, etc.

I find this pretty amazing, considering the band has been praised by their openness and approval of the digital music business. Then again, some of the comments in that post sum it up pretty well:

It really was distrubing for me, a long time Dave Matthews fan, to hear that his cd was locked down with some DRM. The music industry still believes that they can “force” people to do it their way, instead of giving people what they want. I don’t want a music on a cd, I want it on my ipod. If I can’t do that, I’m not a happy customer.

Also, this follows my opinions on the industry quite closely:

the labels have had complete control over the business for decades, deciding how things will be distributed. With the rise of mp3s, the labels are losing control and they know it. This is why they fight like hell against downloaders. He told me how Steve Jobs had to bang on doors and get in people’s faces when he was setting up iTunes to convince labels to let people download music from iTunes for $.99 per song.

Basically, the major labels are arrogant and are operating on an outdated business model. They think that with their wealth and might they can keep the status quo ante in place.