Near the end of a year that has erupted with headlines hinting toward the imminent demise of digital rights management, Hypebot wants to know if you think the DRM-free bandwagon has hit a speed bump. We've heard Steve Jobs ask labels to stop requiring DRM on iTunes. EMI obliged by stopping its use of DRM completely. Universal announced that it would undergo a DRM-free "experiment." Amazon even opened a DRM-free MP3 store to rave customer reviews (and possibly to the chagrin of Steve Jobs). There's also eMusic, which has been DRM-free since inception.
But we haven't heard a word out of either Sony BMG or Warner Music Group (half of the "Big Four" record labels) on the subject of DRM, announcing no plans to alter policy in the near future. It's possible that they're holding out to see if DRM-free music is the new wave of the future or just a last-ditch marketing gimmick from an industry fearing collapse. If that's the case, with consumer loyalty toward the major labels being as volatile as it has become, how long can they afford to wait?