If Steve Jobs had a mantra, it might be this: if at first you don't succeed, change the rules of the game. The Financial Times reports that Apple is engaged in talks with the record labels to create a new model of digital music distribution. To wit, akin to the Total Music plan that Universal was pimping, the plan would potentially involve increasing the price of iPods in exchange for unlimited access to the labels' music libraries.
Steve Jobs has long been dismissive of the subscription model for music, saying that people want to own their music. This story, however, differentiates this package model from a subscription deal, by pointing out that Apple may consider a subscription model for iPhones, since those customers are already in the habit of paying a monthly fee.
While the ideas are interesting, what worries me is the mechanism for enforcing these plans. It seems pretty likely that some sort of DRM would be required—that would seem a step backwards in this era where so many stores are switching to offering DRM-free tracks.
Apple, however, has been left out in the cold in that realm, continuing to offer DRM-free music from only one major label, EMI. One common theory behind the lack of DRM-free content on the iTunes Store has been that the labels want to reduce Apple's dominance in the music download arena, setting up others, such as Amazon, as competitors. So, given that this deal would presumably provide free access to the extensive catalogs of the labels for those who buy music from Apple, why would the labels—pardon the pun—change their tune?
As The O'Jays so eloquently put it: for that lean, mean, mean, green.
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