Apple and EMI announce DRM-free downloads


EMI will release its catalog in DRM-free 256 kbps AAC format on iTunes starting in May.

They upped the price of the tracks to $1.29 a pop, and iTunes will still have the DRM 128 kbps AAC version available for purchase. Looks like the number crunchers did some calculations on how much they would need to charge if they were to allow DRM-free files out into the digital ecosystem, and thirty cents was the answer. To recoup their losses and make a decent profit, that is. Increasing the sound quality and getting a DRM-free file for an extra trinta centavos? Porque no! Here's the press release from Apple:

http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2007/04/02itunes.html

Steve Jobs says he expects to offer more than half of the songs on iTunes in DRM-free format by the end of the year. Finally, we're seeing some movement. I've been saying this for a couple years now, the market will accept a higher price, just get rid of that DRM rubbish. Look who's the instigator here: the owner of the content. Let's hope book publishers start waking up and ditch the DRM. It's a painful nuisance. Libraries are willing to cough up extra when it means giving their patrons better service. To DRM providers: Overdrive, NetLibrary, Rhapsody! Listen up! Follow Apple's lead, work with the content providers and serve the consumer. Tell the publishers the truth: the consumer hates DRM. Your digital sales will not expand until you accept that fact. You force the consumer to buy inferior products to listen to your stuff. What idiocy is that? I hate having to tell patrons who come in that they have to go buy a lousy MP3 player to listen to Overdrive audiobooks, when the iPods are so much better. And let's be honest here: everything out there that plays Microsoft DRM is lame. It's like back when Eastern Europe was still communist. Yeah, the West has BMWs and Mercedes, but you can't have them. But look, we've got the Skoda and the Yugo! Such a deal!

It's probably just wishful thinking, but I hope this is the beginning of the end for DRM. Another thing going on here: which MP3 player companies already support AAC files? Answer: Apple, obviously, but also Sony, and surprisingly, Microsoft. Yes, the Zune supports AAC format. Who knew? Who cared? ;-) File conversion is also an option, but a cumbersome one, so I would think that Creative will pony up and support AAC format soon. Why not? Really, if Microsoft's doing it, that's pretty much a green light for all of its lackeys to follow.

Posted: Mon - April 2, 2007 at 10:40 AM      

©