InformationWeek has a pretty good article on Apple . Although it takes a funny position on the DMCA, the article rightly calls-out the benefits of DRM to consumers.

Apple's DRM has benefited the public and the music industry. It was Apple's technology platform that convinced the music industry to sell music and videos online. The iPod and its FairPlay DRM created a legal digital music market where none had existed before. While the iPod eco-system isn't without its problems, it's clear that Apple and its DRM have done some good.