Back in February Steve Jobs’ called for the major record labels to drop their requirements for digital rights management (DRM) and now we have the first tangible response.
Starting in May the iTunes Store will offer the bulk of the EMI music catalog in two forms: the current 99¢ cent/track DRM-full AAC version and, for 30¢ more, a higher quality (256kbps) version with no DRM that you can copy to and play on any player that supports the industry standard AAC format. You will also be able to “upgrade” EMI music you’ve already purchased with DRM by paying the 30¢ price difference.
- Apple Unveils Higher Quality DRM-Free Music on the iTunes Store
- Audio feeds of the announcement
- AppleInsider Q&A Transcript
At the moment only EMI’s catalog will be available without rights restrictions but Steve Jobs said that Apple expects to offer DRM-free versions of more than half of the iTunes Store’s offerings by the end of 2007 so presumably talks are proceeding with other labels as well.
There was no mention of pricing of full albums in the new DRM-free format, but if its no worse than a similar 30% higher cost this might be what finally convinces me to stop buying physical CDs that until now I rip once at high quality then pack away in the attic never to be used again.
2007-Apr-06 Update
Somehow I missed it but supposedly Apple said that full albums will be sold in the new higher-quality, DRM-free form without a price increase! Very good news.
What do you think?