EMI to dump DRM

[jpinard]

Kudos to EMI. Ironically, I stopped buying iTunes music for this very issues. DRM and poor sound quality.

http://www.emigroup.com/Press/2007/press18.htm

Anyone want to bet on what Sony & BMG will do?

[extarbags]

Apple's iTunes Store (www.itunes.com) is the first online music store to receive EMI's new premium downloads. Apple has announced that iTunes will make individual AAC format tracks available from EMI artists at twice the sound quality of existing downloads, with their DRM removed, at a price of $1.29/€1.29/£0.99. iTunes will continue to offer consumers the ability to pay $0.99/€0.99/£0.79 for standard sound quality tracks with DRM still applied. Complete albums from EMI Music artists purchased on the iTunes Store will automatically be sold at the higher sound quality and DRM-free, with no change in the price. Consumers who have already purchased standard tracks or albums with DRM will be able to upgrade their digital music for $0.30/€0.30/£0.20 per track.

So actually... they're giving us a chance to pay for the privilege of not having DRM. How gracious of them.

[jpinard]

Better sound quality is the key. If it were just DRM free for more money, that would suck.

[extarbags]

Is it really better sound quality? I don't use iTunes, but I can't imagine it's gotten this popular on the back of shitty 64kpbs tracks.