Despite the rapidly growing popularity of the MP3, some artists and producers are fighting against the limitations of the low-quality format. One of the leading advocates of this cause is renowned producer and songwriter T Bone Burnett
Despite the rapidly growing popularity of the MP3, some artists and producers are fighting against the limitations of the low-quality format. One of the leading advocates of this cause is renowned producer and songwriter T Bone Burnett. As an alternative to the MP3, Burnett developed what he has come to call “Code,” a high-quality DVD sound format that would play on a standard DVD player. Burnett saw the distribution of music in MP3 format as a “loss of control” for both the artist and the producer, and developed “Code” as a way of protecting the art of music.
The first album to be released in this format will be John Mellencamp’s upcoming Life, Death, Love, and Freedom, slated for a July 15th release. For those without a DVD player or who like to take their music on the road, the album will include a standard format CD in addition to the “Code” DVD.
High-fidelity formats have also become a hot topic for other artists disheartened by the digital music era. Neil Young plans to release his full catalog, in increments, on the Blu-Ray format while Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails has provided a higher-quality download option for the band’s latest album. Peter Gabriel and B&W speaker company are launching “Music Club,” which will be a subscription service offering only hi-fi downloads.