The latest email from the Bruce Springsteen mailing list (that is, the announce-only official list) pointed to his new video, American Land, which for now is exclusively available though cable net CMT’s website. Cool, so I clicked over to give a look.
Yet when I clicked the video link I saw a big blank space and this annoying message:
In order to offer a broad selection of full-length music videos on-demand and free of charge, CMT Loaded uses Windows Digital Rights Management (DRM) to protect videos from unauthorized re-distribution.Unfortunately, Microsoft’s Windows Media Player Plug-in for Macintosh does not support Windows DRM. If DRM support becomes available for Macintosh, CMT will develop a version of CMT Loaded that works on a Mac.
Bruce, you have got to be kidding me. Mr. Blue Collar, man of the people, and yet you’re bent out of shape at the possibility fans may take a copy to keep or pass on to other fans? I can’t watch the new video because I have a MacBook and OS X doesn’t support the “digital rights management” that you and/or your management feel is needed to preserve his financial interests?
Bruce, you’ve been my favorite musical act since 1974 and I’ve splashed out plenty of money over 32 years on records, CDs, DVDs, concert tickets, shirts, hats and books; for you and/or your people to block me from watching a freely available video is just sad.
Later: Just came across Bob Lefsetz’s entertaining, angry essay on Springsteen on the Rhino Records website, which is his response to Diamonds & Dust. Let’s just say that though Bob–a highly-respected music industry analyst–was a fan early on he didn’t take well to Springsteen’s post-Ghosts of Tom Joad releases (though no mention of Tracks, not clear where that might fit in to his thinking). A very enjoyable read nonetheless.
BillSaysThis 