The "A" In Amazon Is For Asking For Forgiveness Rather Than Permission
More on Amazon’s ballsy bet to go ahead without full label support.
WSJ’s Ethan Smith:
One major music company, Sony Corp.’s Sony Music Entertainment, expressed dismay at Amazon’s plans, echoing concerns of others in the industry. “We are disappointed that the locker service that Amazon is proposing is unlicensed by Sony Music,” a spokeswoman said Tuesday evening.
An Amazon spokesman didn’t respond to requests for comment.
Amazon executives have told several media companies that they are likely to seek licenses after this week’s expected announcement.
Looks like they’ll be asking for forgiveness rather than permission.
I love it. A scrappy move by a player far behind the dominating player (iTunes). And one that may force the labels to stop dragging their feet on issues like this.
In Spades
The typical “happy when you write positive things”/”pissed off when you write negative things” reaction.
I’m not suggesting that Google is doomed. I love Google. I use their products more than any others — yes, including Apple. But there’s no denying that all of the things I mentioned have had execution that is just off recently.
Why announce Google Music on stage at I/O if you don’t have the labels on board yet?
Why release Google TV if the TV networks are going to block you a week later?
Why pre-announce that Chrome OS would be ready in time for holidays 2010?
Why mix all this “open” talk about Android pinned to the “hopes” that the carriers will do the right thing?
Google Books, Wave, Buzz, +1, etc, etc, etc, etc.
A spade has to be called a spade.
On Judging iBooks By iCovers
The past few years, there’s been an interesting trend. Following Apple events, there seems to be a race for who can be the first one to label whatever Apple unveils as underwhelming. It’s as if they want to be able to say they called it first if Apple falters. The problem, of course, is that these people rush to this judgement without having used the actual product.
