iTunes Goes DRM-Free, Gets More Expensive…and Gets Cheaper?
By Harry McCracken | Tuesday, January 6, 2009 at 2:10 am
It might or might be announced this morning at Macworld Expo, but it seems inevitable: CNET is reporting that Apple has hammered out a deal to sell DRM-free music from Sony BMG, Universal, and Warner, joining EMI’s iTunes Plus DRM-less music in the iTunes Store. The agreement would finally give Apple DRM-free music from all the major labels–something it really needs given that Amazon.com and most other major purveyors of music downloads have lost the copy protection.
Amazon.com also undercuts Apple’s pricing on many tracks; CNET reports that Apple’s deal with the labels will force it to drop its flat 99-cent fee in favor of variable pricing, with hot new stuff sometimes costing more, and back-catalog songs going for 79 cents. Seems like a reasonable concession to me (and complete albums already go for varying prices at the iTunes Store).
I don’t recommend buying DRM-hobbled music, which means that don’t recommend buying the protected songs that still comprise the majority of Apple’s offerings. It’ll feel good if I can stop warning folks about the iTunes Store–and I’ll bet Apple is looking forward to losing the DRM as much as anybody at this point.
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DRM Free iTunes? Says:
January 6th, 2009 at 5:53 am[…] Free iTunes? Posted by Dave January 6, 2009 According to this missive by Harry McCracken on Technologizer it seems that the iTunes store may be going DRM free for the […]
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Technologizer’s 2009 Predictions: Hey, a Lot of This Stuff Really Did Happen! | Technologizer Says:
December 24th, 2009 at 2:20 am[…] Reality? Apple’s market share grew, Snow Leopard sold well, it introduced no all-new devices but did update the Mini (and other machines). And the iTunes Store went DRM-free for music. […]
January 6th, 2009 at 8:06 am
It should have happened a long, long time ago!
January 6th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
DRM is a bag of hurt.
May 14th, 2009 at 6:51 pm
decreasing the price for some songs seems nice, however the increase in other 2ongs by 30 cents is a pain, i am considering boycotting itunes for awhile
May 30th, 2009 at 8:28 am
This is BS-I just bought I tunes songs, they are ALL 99cents and the rest are1.29. None are .79 cents!!!! Boycott I tunes!!!!!
June 21st, 2010 at 10:23 am
emule has got some good inventory of free music.:,.
September 8th, 2010 at 10:46 am
Hi, On every occasion I add a web-page to my Favorites in IE8, it is added at the end of the already established list. I will sort them by name*manually. But I’d like IE8 for doing that automatically. Could this be done ? Thanks
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