Microsoft will kill MSN music?

 On April 22, 2008, Microsoft announced that it will no longer supply authorization keys for songs purchased from the defunct MSN Music service. That means that the PlaysForSure music you purchased will only play on your registered computers (up to 5) for as long as they shall live. As Microsoft puts it, “If you attempt to transfer your songs to additional computers after August 31, 2008, those songs will not successfully play.” 

It’s worth noting that the move also locks the registered PC into whatever OS it’s running — any major update or switch to Ubuntu for example, would kill all your music, dead. Now imagine what would happen if iTunes shuttered its store — Steve won’t be around forever you know.

 
MSN Entertainment and Video Services general manager Rob Bennett sent out an e-mail on April 22 afternoon to customers, advising them to make any and all authorizations or deauthorizations before August 31. “As of August 31, 2008, we will no longer be able to support the retrieval of license keys for the songs you purchased from MSN Music or the authorization of additional computers,” reads the e-mail seen by Ars. “You will need to obtain a license key for each of your songs downloaded from MSN Music on any new computer, and you must do so before August 31, 2008. If you attempt to transfer your songs to additional computers after August 31, 2008, those songs will not successfully play.

Related links:
How to convert Napster DRM protected WMA to MP3?
How to remove DRM protection from Windows Medai Player WMA?
How to remove DRM protection from iTunes movies for iPhone?