Kings of Lame
I thought I’d bob down the local music shop and check out the Kings of Leon album - see what all the fuss is about. In my haste to flash the cash, I failed to notice the ever so subtle copyright protection badge on the back of the CD. It was only when getting back to the office and trying to play the CD through iTunes 4 that I figured something was up. Importing (ripping) the CD so I could play the music on my iPod, resulted in only the first 9 seconds of each track being ripped. Bugger.
You can play the music on a computer - the CD does come with some third party software - but that’s no good if you want to listen to it on an iPod or stream it to other computers in your office.
I’ve fired off an angry email to BMG about this, but I strongly doubt I’ll get no more than a standard corporate reply. It seems totally unacceptable to me that I can’t play music I’ve paid for on my iPod.
I know copyright control is important to prevent artists getting ripped off, but surely record companies can come up with a better solution?
Posted 5 years, 2 months ago on 17th July 2003.
- Rally Sting
- Terrordaq
- Into the Big Blue
- Silverstone Delivers
- Kings of Lame
- Rebirth of Boom
- The Good Life
- Tobago
- Sunshine
Comments
Actually, Phil, if you want to take a stand on this, you might want to return the CD to the shop and demand your money back. Then we’ll see why sales are falling.
Also, the bullshit interpretation of falling sales on that BMG site is incredible. Here’s an alternative viewpoint that should resonate:
http://stage4.co.uk/full_story.php?newsID=40
And another, this one explaining the drop in revenue, based on the economic climate following 9-11:
http://www.mostlycreativeworkshop.com/article34.html
And then there’s always the fact that single sales have, I believe, been in decline for quite a while anyway. Let’s face it, the top 40’s full of rubbish. Or am I just getting old? :)
I am toying with the idea of returning it, as it’s honestly not much use to me in it’s protected form. Technologies such as mp3’s, iPods, iTunes etc. has changed they way we listen to and enjoy music - I know it’s a bit of a legal minefield - but the stance taken by BMG doesn’t benefit anyone. The consumer has restricted access to the music, which can only be detrimental to the artist, who wants their music played at every opportunity. Also, in the store, if you see copyright protection badges on the CD, and you listen to music in a similar fashion to me, you’ll think twice about making the purchase.
Phil · 5 years, 2 months ago
Heh, I managed to get round the protection using a great piece of freeware called NMP3 Ripper, so I can now import the ripped tracks into iTunes and sync up my iPod - wahey!
For info on NMP3 Ripper, check out http://www.stumod.com/code.html
Phil · 5 years, 2 months ago
Take it back and download it with SoulSeek or whatever. It’ll serve them right. Don’t the bands themselves have any say in this sort of thing?
SoulSeek (or equivalent OS X app) was definitely an option, though
I don’t bother downloading mp3’s that much anymore. I’m prepared to buy music - I just get annoyed when music companies dictate to me how I should listen to music I’ve paid for.
Not sure what say the artists have - I would presume it’s down to the policy run by the record company they are signed to.
Phil · 5 years, 2 months ago
Hi Phil
I agree with all the comments made. It is ridiculous tht they should dictate which device one should listen to their music.
Although have you not thought of listening to some prop'a music :-).
Berb Brown · 5 years, 2 months ago
Hey Robert, you’d probably like the Kings of Leon - they might remind you of the early 70’s :-)
Phil · 5 years, 2 months ago
It might be an idea to send a letter (or email) to the shop (or website) you get your CDs from, telling them that you’ll not buy any CDs with copy protection.
Of course, it’s easier to avoid such CDs on the high-street than on the web (sites can choose not to tell you about the feature), but it might be worth a shot. I almost feel the need to sign a petition, but apparently online petitions don’t work:
http://www.actsofvolition.com/archives/2003/may/oneline
I got it from Windows in Monument Arcade in Newcastle, my usual music purchasing haunt. I think I’ll just have to keep an eagle-eye out for those symbols on the back of the CD.
You’re right about online petitions - great idea, but ultimately it counts for bugger all.
Still no word from BMG...
Phil · 5 years, 2 months ago
Chaps,
I don’t know what the problem is... Just put the cd in the cd drive.... cancel any notification that comes as a result of the autorun file on the data section.... open windows media player 9.... select copy from cd and away you go .... no problems ....
I have even got the track listing information using media player 9’s lookup service....
using WINXP MP9
barry turner · 5 years, 2 months ago
Have the same problem with the kings of leon cd .... and by the way i too have popped it into the cd drive, started Media player, played the cd and got the track listing, just like you barry, same specs, ... but it hangs when i ask it to copy from cd. Great band, shame about this copy control nonsense.
kath crolla · 5 years, 2 months ago
I somewhat naively asked cd-wow.com if they would start displaying information about copy protection on their pages last week, but not surprisingly they’ve cited pressure from the record labels / distributors as the reason for not doing this. I asked them to pass on my regrets that labels should be willing to reduce sales like this, but I doubt it went any further than cd-wow’s inbox. Hey ho.
I can’t see why music store websites can’t display copyright information - when you go down HMV you can get the info by looking at the back of CD’s, why not so on the web?
Doing a quick survey of the Amazon, Play and HMV websites, only Amazon have the copyright information displayed.
I guess record companies enforcing these restrictions are worried about the adverse effects on sales if the information is more visible.
Phil · 5 years, 2 months ago
Phil: "I guess record companies enforcing these restrictions are worried about the adverse effects on sales if the information is more visible."
Yup. And only Amazon has the sales clout to be able to ignore the record companies' demands.
Just bought the Kings of Leon to listen to in my sweet MPIO FL-100 and I am mad about the copy protection. I don’t steal music, I pay for it, and want my fair use rights!
These guys are assholes.... Oh well I’ll just have to play it on my hi-fi and rip it from the line in on my Mini ITX in the lounge!
Fairy
fairyliquidizer · 5 years, 2 months ago
If you guys know a better way to rip this on my PC that doesn’t involve felt tip pens or tape then do share the info... Thanks,
Fairy
fairyliquidizer · 5 years, 2 months ago
Can’t help you there I’m afraid - I’m in a Mac environment. I suggest just having a quick Google around the web.
Phil · 5 years, 2 months ago
Yeah, my mate bought me the Kings Of Leon, and I tried to put it on my MP3 player because I’m going to the USA and don’t wanna take all my CDs with me. Wouldn’t work. Ain’t like I was gonna go round selling it, just wanted it on my NOMAD. And I’m not taking a CD player, so what am I supposed to do?
Dany · 5 years, 1 month ago
I have a Samsung Sm-352 DVD reader, which can play and rip the disc perfectly.
Might be worth considering... :-)
AAAAAAGGGHHH! Just bought it myself and cant play it at all on my DVD player based hi-fi. It just won’t recognise the disk. Not only that but so far I too am unable to rip it for use on my MP3 car stereo.
As so many people keep saying, copy protection of this nature is just gonna stop me buying albums that use it. At present I don’t download music, I buy it. However copy protection like this is gonna force me to start looking.
Raif · 5 years, 1 month ago
If you’ve got an old copy of Toast Audio Extractor - try it. It extracts the audio as aiffs effortlessly. Import into iTunes. Transfer to iPod. Get refund on CD. Sorted.
Gary · 5 years, 1 month ago
It’s actually pretty easy to get passed the cd protection, all you need is the new Clone Cd program (which includes Virtual CloneDrive), you can get a trial version from the following address: http://www.das-download-archiv.de/download.php?id=520. When you get the software read the disc as an image, make sure you select it to be read as an Audio Cd. After that mount the image file on Virtual Drive (you will see it appear as an audio Cd). After mounting go to Clone Cd and select the Drive as the reader and your Burner as the Writer. OUILA
Ahmed Rahman · 5 years, 1 month ago
I found this to be very sucky too! I got round it by playing the songs in media player on my PC, recording them using Cool Edit Pro, then copying them across to my iBook (phew) then editing the info in iTunes and then putting them on my iPod!! :D
So if anyone needs Youth & Young Manhood which fully works on an iPod, let me know ;)
hi
i got around this by copying the cd to an image file using Alcohol 120%. once id mounted the image into a virtual drive i could do what i wanted with it. so i extracted the tracks to wav file and wrote them to cd minus the copy protection. probably been said before :-)
we will dictate how we want to use music which we buy, not the record companies. the reduced sales are because of the extortionate prices charged for cds..
Hotrod · 5 years, 1 month ago
Copying a CD using a hi-fi CD copier (yes, we bought one of those before everyone realised they were pointless) and then ripping from the copy works too.
But I suppose that’s a variation on other methods suggested here.
Oooh, can I be sued under DMCA for helping to circumvent copyright control measures now?
McMac · 4 years, 12 months ago
Even worse news on this CD. It does not even work properly in "standard" home CD players. I have an Arcam 7SE and a Sony Discman (can’t remember which model). Nine seconds into every track on both players, there is a little skip in the music which is very annoying. I have also notice the same problem with another recent BMG CD Dido Life for Rent (my wife’s taste in music). As mentioned above this copy protection will prevent me from ever buying a BMG CD again as what is the point in spending more than £1,500 on a hi-fi system to achive an excellent sound only to have it messed up by ham fisted copy protection.
Peter · 4 years, 12 months ago
Hope you dont mind a PC user commenting here, but strange one this. My kings of leon albumn didnt wanna play on my "super dooper dvd/cd drive", yet put it in my cheapo £28 cd writer drive and Bingo! It read fine!!
Then used same method as one of the guys above to copy it into my windows media library so i can use the tracks to form my own compilations / to listen to through my pc which i use as an uber Jukebox which has all my albumns on.
I agree with you all that with falling record sales, this 'aint the way to boost confidence / make people buy albumns!! When will they get it right?!
Nik · 4 years, 10 months ago
Fuck BMG
don’t expect shit from these cunts, just to spite them rip the cd, the return it for a full refund, here’s how . . .
HOW TO DUPLICATE AN EMI COPY-CONTROLLED DISC USING MACINTOSH OS X, ITUNES, ROXIO TOAST TITANIUM:
Before inserting the disc into your drive, do the following:
1) Go to System Preferences.
2) Click "Show All"
3) Under Hardware section, Click on "CDs & DVDs"
4) Look for the phrase "When you insert a music CD:". On the drop-down combo box next to it, choose "Ignore:"
5) Close The Window
Now insert your CD and you will notice that the audio and data session will mount on your computer. Check the audio session which should show the correct track information.
Open Itunes and you’re ready to RIP the tracks to MP3s or AACs,
ha ha · 4 years, 10 months ago
to copy protect cd audio use the program : #1 cd ripper. don’t checked the last track, isn’t a audio track.
CopyAll · 4 years, 10 months ago
I bought the Kings of Leon album, inserted into my cd-rom with the intention of downloading it onto my i-pod, and was absolutely disgusted with the copy-protect bollocks.
Apart from the fact i can’t copy onto my i-pod, the software which plays the cd is SHOCKINGLY bad! Worse than streaming audio using a 28k modem!!
I e-mailed bmg and told them that far from discouraging piracy, all they have inspired me to do is to download from the internet, and take the cd back to the shop. Counter-productive or what? Suffice to say i received no reply.
As for the real cd pirates...they have software that by-passes the copy protect software. So what’s the point?
Also...bmg are responsible for Gareth Gates.
Sgt Death · 4 years, 10 months ago
Just ripped the CD, UK Copy protected anti-mac bumf on back cover... Worked fine on my iBook - Panther and upto date iTunes! Have apple got around this themselves?
Nice one, top one, sorted...
I too am disgusted by the stance BMG are taking. I buy all my music and even actively dissuade people I know from ripping off bands they like by using P2P services. "Go to FOPP", I say!
I was horrified when I couldn’t transfer my Kings of Leon album.
I put all my CDs onto MiniDisc via NetMD / OpenMG, and I don’t even mind Sony’s weird check in/out "protection".
If anyone can provide a link to some comprehensive ripping instructions for this CD (and others like it) I’m sure many people would be extremely grateful!
Cheers all keep fighting
Chris J, London · 4 years, 7 months ago
As said above just pop the disc into your CD-ROM drive rather than the DVD and it will load in WMP where you can copy it.
gazzie · 4 years, 5 months ago
gazzie is right, if on a PC you can copy the album by just using cd drive...saying that the cheek of those fuckers..$25 for a cd and being told what you can and cant do with it...BURN BURN BURN the music..its good music not pop shite thats prob putting their stupid kids through college....Gareth Gates etc
Iriah Brian · 4 years, 5 months ago
Help needed!
Bought Dido’s latest (I know, but I like her!), popped it in drive, opened Itunes and hey presto all the songs were there for the picking.
Bought Will Young’s latest (I know, I know), popped it in drive, opened itunes and nothing, no listing, can’t even play the cd let alone burn it. Now, when I put Dido back in the same thing is happening. It just keeps calling them Data CD’s. I have tried Music Match, tried updating itunes and even reloaded it. Nothing happens.
Does anyone know why this is happening?
Some one suggested I just play the CD in my walkman and link up a cable straight to my minidisc - seems so simple - will this actually work??
pocketkiwi · 4 years, 3 months ago
Does anyone know if Alcohol 120% will work for making image files of music? It works for ripped games etc. Just wondering if it works for iPod use?
Kaleb · 3 years, 10 months ago
very easy to get around...when the media max program starts dont do anything, just open itunes or other autdio program and start importing....once you install the media max audio progrom from the cd yout computer is never going to be able to rib a copy protected cd again, unless you reformat it... i just did this it worked perfectly
tones · 3 years, 7 months ago
Here are my experiences with this and how I got around the copy protection:
http://dotavery.com/blog/archive/2005/03/17/2694.aspx
James Avery · www · 3 years, 6 months ago
Here is an easy walkthrough on defeating the bogus MediaMaxx copy-protection.
http://www.cs.princeton.edu/~jhalderm/cd3/
Widdle · 3 years, 4 months ago
You have my sympathies. :( I’ve yet to fall into the trap, but I’ll be keeping an eye out for those damn stickers now it seems to be getting a bit more common.
mal · www · 5 years, 2 months ago