EMI to Remove Restrictions on Music Downloads
 

LONDON: EMI Group, one of the world's largest music labels, said Monday that it would offer music downloads on Apple's iTunes online music store without software limiting the use of the files.

EMI will allow full interoperability of digital music on all devices and software platforms, EMI said in a statement. Beginning Monday, sellers of EMI songs will be offered downloads of tracks and albums without digital-rights management, or DRM, software.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/04/...ness/apple.php

More details on Ars Technica. The DRM-free tracks cost an extra 30 cents more than DRM protected singles.

Apple always argued that it was required by contract to sell every track from every record company with DRM protection. That was the reason you never found much Indie music on iTunes. By selling music from one company without DRM they risk breaching their contracts with their other partners. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out.

here's an mp3 of the press conference, including a live performance from emi's the good, the bad and the queen. it's drm free. ;)

the new "premium" (256k) singles will cost more unfortunately but "with a little help for a friend," emi won't increase prices for the new drm-free/higher-bit albums, which is their attempt to stave off the death of format they consider critically important.

they will also offer the option to "upgrade" previously purchased emi tracks by simply paying the difference.

- js.

Sounds like they're starting to get it. It's still overpriced, but maybe market pressure from the indie labels will force the price down over time. Maybe.