Apple Notifies Partners: DRM-free Music and DRM-free Music Videos Soon

[MacRumors]

Yesterday, Apple sent out short notices to their iTunes partners who provide the music content to the iTunes store. The notices let partners know that they would soon be able to offer DRM-free music and DRM-free music videos to customers through iTunes.

Many of you have reached out to iTunes to find out how you can make your songs available higher quality and DRM-free. Starting next month, iTunes will begin offering higher-quality, DRM-free music and DRM-free music videos to all customers.

The new unrestricted format appears to be open to any publisher who is interested. Apple and EMI first announced earlier this month that they would be distributing DRM-free EMI songs via iTunes for $1.29/song with higher quality settings. The first of these new songs are expected in May.

In the earlier press release, it was revealed that Music Videos would also come DRM-free from EMI but with no change in price.

[Project]

So does this mean that all those smaller artists / publishers who wanted their music DRM free on iTunes can do so?

If so, good news.

[arn]

Originally Posted by Project

So does this mean that all those smaller artists / publishers who wanted their music DRM free on iTunes can do so?

If so, good news.

Looks like it. I think it was sent to everyone who publishes music on iTunes.

arn

[davidjearly]

It's not the first time that DRM free music videos has been discussed. This was already disclosed in the EMI deal. Thats what I thought.

It was when asked about video content (i.e. non-music (tv shows & movies)) that Steve said it was completely different and there were no details.

David

[SRSound]

so this means we'll be able to download direct from iTunes on to our iPhones - no DRM hassle = download and transfer freedom

[iMikeT]

This was unexpected.

[arn]

Originally Posted by davidjearly

It's not the first time that DRM free music videos has been discussed. This was already disclosed in the EMI deal. Thats what I thought.

you're right. story updated.

arn

[Object-X]

DRM free is great and everything, but I will still only buy Apple products, so it's just not an issue. I guess I'm still amazed that after all these years no one has been able to seriously challange Apple. Still, freedom is good.

[Nermal]

(Edit: Decided not to go there, although you can still see what I said in the next post)

[coolfactor]

Originally Posted by Nermal

Yay! Death to DRM! I'll be able to buy a real music player soon

Care to elaborate on what a real music player might be?

[Shagrat]

Originally Posted by coolfactor

Care to elaborate on what a real music player might be?

This?

[Queso]

This is very good news. The more minor labels jump on board with DRM free, the more likely it is that Sony BMG, Warner etc. will follow EMI and open up their stuff too.

Dolby are going to be laughing all the way to the bank. The numbers of manufacturers that licence AAC is going to skyrocket

[robPOD]

Originally Posted by Shagrat

This?

This is a good step in the right direction. And btw that Sandisk Sansa Rhapsody is one ugly peice of S..T. I would prefer an iPod any day.

[Brandon Sharitt]

It looks like digital music may replace CD sales for me very soon. The low bitrate DRM'd tracks of iTunes was a real deal breaker for me, though I do buy stuff from eMusic when they have something I like, but unfortunately their catalog is quite small. Hopefully the fall of music DRM will help the get more music in their store, though a DRM free iTunes would kill the only reason I use them now.

The next step is to get DRM free HD quality movies and TV shows from iTunes, that way the AppleTV actually looks useful, though for the AppleTV specifically the later is more important, and I suspect it will be here soon, but I won't hold my breath for the former.

[peestandingup]

Originally Posted by Brandon Sharitt

It looks like digital music may replace CD sales for me very soon.

You & everyone else.

[oober_freak]

I can't believe how demanding Apple users are. Some one rated this story negative.

[PlaceofDis]

awesome. hopefully more and more labels pick this option.

[Nermal]

Originally Posted by Brandon Sharitt

It looks like digital music may replace CD sales for me very soon.

CDs are digital!

[gnasher729]

Originally Posted by Brandon Sharitt

It looks like digital music may replace CD sales for me very soon.

Excuse me, but...

Digital music sales have almost completely replaced analog music sales in the last twenty years. Most digital music sales are in the form of CDs.

[stadidas]

Originally Posted by Nermal

CDs are digital!

Haha, I was thinking that too. They're "better" digital too (PCM > perceptual encoding).
As good as this is, I still hope physical music and films never go away. I like to have artwork and something I can actually hold in my hand (Vinyl for example is a joy). Also buying music on a CD means you have a backup without having to backup as it were.
It will be great not to be tied down by any DRM for the music I do buy online though.

[zap2]

I hope all the the music studios take this offer, I'll be really happy when I can use my music they way I should have been able to since day 1.

[4np]

Great!

Hopefully this will allow Apple to get rid of the most annoying thing in iTunes: the restriction that your iPod library has to be identical to the library on your Mac/Pc. If I have 60GB of music on my iPod I don't want to have this amount of data on my Mac as well... I'd rather use the storage on my Mac (in my case a PowerBook) for other more usefull things...

[BenRoethig]

DRM-free is good. It makes Apple look good and avoids those nasty anti-trust lawsuits.

[gnasher729]

Originally Posted by Project

So does this mean that all those smaller artists / publishers who wanted their music DRM free on iTunes can do so?

Everyone who signed a contract with Apple (or could have signed a contract) can do so. If you are a music publisher, you can take the contract between EMI and Apple, replace the name "EMI" with yours, and sign it

Actually, publishers who _didn't_ want their music DRM free (like EMI a year ago) can do it as well, and the way that Apple has arranged things, I think they will all profit from it. The publisher would get: (a) money from people who decide to upgrade music from DRM to DRM free. (b) more money than before from people who purchase DRM free/256KBit instead of DRM/128Kbit. (c) money from people who wouldn't have bought at all with DRM. (d) money from people who buy the whole album because it is now better value for money.

That is typical how Apple does things: They have structured the deal in such a way that customers are likely to pay more money for better or more products. Apple wants a customer who says "I paid more and I'm glad I paid more" because they get more for their money.

[stadidas]

Originally Posted by 4np

Great!

Hopefully this will allow Apple to get rid of the most annoying thing in iTunes: the restriction that your iPod library has to be identical to the library on your Mac/Pc. If I have 60GB of music on my iPod I don't want to have this amount of data on my Mac as well... I'd rather use the storage on my Mac (in my case a PowerBook) for other more usefull things...

Can't you do that by using manual sync? I have stuff on my nano that is no longer in my library.