Is Digital Rights Management the best way to save the music industry?

Is Digital Rights Management (DRM) the best way to save the music industry?


The main problem that has recently sparked a cause for concern in the music industry is the ability Internet download sites such as Limewire have to attract the mass audience into illegally/freely downloading and file sharing media, which was once protected via copyright. Digital Rights Management (DRM) helps protect the copyright of the artist. Paradoxically the fight against sites such as Limewire, Winmx and Napster has help increase the circulation of music at a faster rate than a CD in sold in store. The consumer may be sampling the music free of charge and illegally but on the other hand the recording industry is allowing its consumer to effectively try before they buy. A strategy that could benefit the music industry in the long run, the main fear here would be that the consumer takes a liking to the easier sufficient way of attaining music that they may no longer see the point in going to a high street music store and purchasing their favourite music which would force the industry into uncertainty. It appears that the technological advancements in society have led to such issues and it is unclear how the music industry will progress concerning Digital Rights Management.