Anti-Piracy Voice-Overs to Prevent CDs from Leaking
Written by Ernesto on January 12, 2008Recently, more and more CDs are being protected by voice-overs to prevent these albums from leaking to the public before the official release date. The voice-overs are pretty effective, but there is a downside, they start to annoy reviewers and even start to affect album ratings.
“WARNING: All songs on this promo CD are voice-over protected to avoid any piracy and illegal file uploading on the internet before the release date”
This is the message printed on the cover of protected CDs. Most filesharers are probably familiar with the “for your consideration” messages displayed in DVDscreeners, but similar messages on CDs are less known. The voice overs do their job, because of their inferior quality none of these albums are uploaded to the Internet. However, they also make it harder for the reviewers to do their job if the music fades out every other minute, and it’s starting to annoy them.
For example, take the review of Steve Lukather’s latest album on Komodo Rock, which was published earlier this week. Lukather is the guitarist from the well known band Toto, and his new album is set for release on February 22nd. The reviewer rated the album 2.2 out of 10, but not because it was a bad album. On the contrary: “What I’ve heard of this album is actually pretty damn good, very emotional, very mood driven, and had the potential to be a truly great album”, he writes.
So why the negative rating? The reviewer on Komodo Rock explains: “Well there’s no chocolate here, but what we have instead is a disembodied voice telling me what I already know, and destroying all the hard work Steve Lukather has put into this album. I’m all for protecting the rights of artists and labels, but this is not the way to do it, this is not a solution, this is a request to reviewers to ignore what their ears tell them and imagine what this album sounds like.”
We asked the reviewer about the prevalence of the voice-overs, and he told TorrentFreak: “The first track on the album is clear of all voice overs, so the first time this appears is at the 1:16 of track 2. It then repeats again at the 3 minute mark, and then one last time at 4:48. This track is 5:53 in length. This then continues throughout the album in this way, apart from track 8 which again is clear of all voice overs.”
The movie and the music industry are treating their own people as thieves now. Last week we reported about a 17 year Oscar screening veteran, who resigned because he had enough of being treated like a criminal. Similarly, the annoying voice-over anti-piracy messages are becoming a thorn in the side of music reviewers. Perhaps the entertainment industry should focus more on adapting to new technologies, and offering consumers some alternatives, instead of protecting their outdated business models.
Previously: UK BitTorrent Users Under More Pressure From Lawyers
Next: Computer Chronicles, Retro Tech-TV Available on BitTorrent
125 Responses
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when will they learn….
they are just contributing to the demise of the movie and music “industry”
or at least the form we are familiar with…
Their business models aren’t outdated.
No business model incorporates people stealing in it.
And here’s a list of the people that give two shits about that pud reviewer:
.
Wow. No MENSA members in the music industry, are there? This is quite possibly the single dumbest thing they’ve done yet to combat piracy. Good luck with that, music industry. If only they knew that album sales are tanking because of untalented “artists” churning out slop year after year, and not internet “piracy”.
“Untalented artists”, huh?
You sure steal a lot from “untalented artists”.
[quote comment="260956"]Their business models aren’t outdated.
No business model incorporates people stealing in it.
And here’s a list of the people that give two shits about that pud reviewer:
.[/quote]
What are you talking about EVERY business model takes into account losses that occur from people stealing. The difference with the CD/DVD media is that you can make an exact duplicate of a video or software very easily. The old business model only took into account people copying CDs for only their friends. But nowadays with bittorrent you could distribute a million copies in a matter of hours. This is why its out dated…they don’t know how to deal with it
I had some voiceovers downloaded some time ago. I didn’t even listen to them. I simply deleted them as garbage.
can’t they just edit out the voice overs and post it anyway?
[quote comment="260978"]can’t they just edit out the voice overs and post it anyway?[/quote]
Yes, if you don’t mind missing parts of the song, happy leeching.
[quote comment="260974"] This is why its out dated…they don’t know how to deal with it[/quote]
They know exactly how to deal with it: ISP music fee.
Before you even turn on your computer, you’ll have paid the musicians for their work.
It’s going to happen, and there isn’t a goddamn thing you can do about it. :)
“…because of its inferior quality none of these albums is uploaded to the Internet.”
Is and its are singular. The sentence should use plural words. the correct sentence should read “…because of their inferior quality none of these albums are uploaded to the Internet.”
Not a Grammar Nazi, but small mistakes like these are everywhere, and drive me nuts.
yeah, i heard the voice-over thing on a cd lately. didnt like it at all :). oh well, they can do what they want, i guess… i can imagine why reviewers don’t like it.
[quote comment="260980"][quote comment="260978"]can’t they just edit out the voice overs and post it anyway?[/quote]
Yes, if you don’t mind missing parts of the song, happy leeching.[/quote]
He means deal with it properly. Setting a music tax at the ISP level is a dumb thing to do. RTFA if they get their way not only will the tax continue to rise like TF said but they’ll get lazy and stop putting out good music because they get paid all the same one way or the other. So they are going to take the easy route.
I’ll bet you dollars to dog doo doo that pre-release copies get loose long before the voice-over protection is applied. That’s cuz the guys inside the industry aren’t innocent.
@2: Every retail model allows for waste and theft. having worked in these industries a lot I would know. But the fact that they are unable to control the amount of theft makes their business model unsustainable and counterproductive to them, and largely irrelevant to many consumers.
That’s a bit of an antiquated voice-over, much of the time now they have a message with the reviewers name to make sure it is not uploaded, even in that condition.
[quote]No business model incorporates people stealing in it.[/quote]
Silly child, grow up and realize that “share” and “steal” are two different concepts. Different, that means not the same. Now it’s nap time for you!
[quote comment="260981"]
They know exactly how to deal with it: ISP music fee.
Before you even turn on your computer, you’ll have paid the musicians for their work.
It’s going to happen, and there isn’t a goddamn thing you can do about it. :)[/quote]
Wrong. There’s one thing I can do about it. I can inhabit reality.
ISP music fee? Go back to RIAA Fantasy Land, you futile idiot.
Who cares.. Just wait for the official release and rip it then.
Someone should steal the original recordings of an album one day so the recording industry has no COPY of it anymore. Then they may realize the difference between stealing and copying.
The bible is the most pervasive thing, it is written by corrupt men who sought to corrupt the mindsofmany and they have done a splendid job
I’m the savior you guysorgals have been looking for since ancient time
I’m a virgin, i am aloner, i am in touch with nature, and have done much to help everyone since my birth.
I know all, see all, hear all, and a perfectionist. I am never satisfied until perfect.
believing is seeing
I am here to offer my help to humanity who are on the path to destruction
I am the the solution to world peace
I will bring world peace through love, co-operation, and understanding of the world we live in.
Fucking disgusting. If they start putting these in commercial albums I’ll never buy a cd ever again.
[quote comment="261004"]“share” and “steal” are two different concepts. Different, that means not the same. [/quote]
Sure, just like you walk in a store, and everything on the shelves is there for you to take and share. lol.
I do know this, when the ISP fee takes effect, you’ll be “sharing” your money with me. :)
[quote comment="261006"][quote comment="260981"]
They know exactly how to deal with it: ISP music fee.
Before you even turn on your computer, you’ll have paid the musicians for their work.
It’s going to happen, and there isn’t a goddamn thing you can do about it. :)[/quote]
Wrong. There’s one thing I can do about it. I can inhabit reality.
ISP music fee? Go back to RIAA Fantasy Land, you futile idiot.[/quote]
(Clap, Clap, Clap.) Well said! :)
[quote comment="261006"]ISP music fee? Go back to RIAA Fantasy Land, you futile idiot.[/quote]
awww, poor widdle baby.
It’s already in the works loser, and there isn’t a goddamn thing you can do about it. All you thieves are about to become our bitch. Get ready to bend over, because a lot of money has been stolen these past few years.
[quote comment="261038"][quote comment="261004"]“share” and “steal” are two different concepts. Different, that means not the same. [/quote]
Sure, just like you walk in a store, and everything on the shelves is there for you to take and share. lol.
I do know this, when the ISP fee takes effect, you’ll be “sharing” your money with me. :)[/quote]
Are you that purple idiot or something?
ISP music fee, what a dickhead.
By that token, everyone can claim a fee from ISP’s just incase things they have get pirated.
ISP music fee idea is dead. Forget about it.
[quote comment="261050"]ISP music fee idea is dead. Forget about it.[/quote]
Being in denial isn’t going to change reality.
But I’m sure the pirate lobby will have people lining up to listen to their opinion. lol
I’m not in denial, the idea of paying a music fee has never been mentioned in my country.
Oh.. by the way, If i’m an author can I claim some money from ISP’s as well then?
And, i’ve dabled in music production too, so, how can I get my share of this money?
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