In late October, 2005, a computer programmer discovered that Sony/BMG had been installing root kits on music CDs that rendered computers susceptible to viruses, prompted a warning from the Homeland Security Agency, resulted in lawsuits from several States Attorneys General, and eventually led to a recall of 4 million CDs. These cases mark the entry of Digital Rights Management into the courts system and legal parlance, inviting a thorough look at the history and possible consequences of Digital Rights Management systems. This article traces the history of rights management technologies starting with the player piano and the phonograph, through the era of Digital Audio Tapes and the Audio Home Recording Act, and culminating with discussions of the Super Audio CD, DVD-Audio, iTunes and modern technological protection measures used in the music industry. The article further discusses trends in music media distribution and suggests effects the music industry's issues with rights management technologies may yield for the movie, video, software, and publishing industries. Finally, this article provides a suggestion that would help preserve the rights of copyright holders and help encourage the growth of the intellectual property industries through a controlled, universal, and flexible Digital Rights Management System.