Om Malik on the Universal/Zune Idiocy

Om Malik writes about the Universal Fee that Microsoft agreed to stick onto Zunes... at least $1 per player(?!). To me, it smells like sheer idiocy to do this, and does not bode well for Microsoft's chances with its other media ventures... but Malik is more articulate than I could hope to be:

If music industry cannot sell one additional song to consumers (and has to blackmail for more money) then, you as a business, have lost grip over your core competency.

Indeed. I myself can't sell this bag of marbles in my closet. Can I blackmail backpack manufacturers into giving me a portion of their profits, rather than doing my own legwork?

Update: Further info at valleywag.com.