iTunes DRM-Free and Paul McCartney This Week?

MacRumors · 03:29 PM

At the beginning of April, Apple and EMI announced that they would be offering DRM-Free music files on the iTunes store beginning in May. With May wrapping up this Thursday, their self-imposed timeframe is quickly approaching.

PaidContent.org has confirmation from EMI that this original plan remains on schedule.

Quote:

Asked for a progress update on delivery of its new, DRM-less repertoire, which EMI slated for a May release when it announced last month that Apple would get the line-up first, the EMI spokesperson confirmed that this development was also on course to make good on that schedule.

MacBidouille's sources also confirm that the launch is coming this week.

PaidContent also reveals that Paul McCartney's catalog which was announced to appear on iTunes has been held up by "an exclusive offering" that will be released with the music in iTunes. McCartney's music has already appeared on competing services (Napster, Rhapsody, Urge and Zune Marketplace).

OwlsAndApples · May 27, 2007, 02:03 PM

It sounds like good news, even if i'm not going to be in a rush to download Macca's music. I hope EMI are going to be successful in their push for DRM-free music, and therefore others should follow. Or maybe they're just a 'brand on the run'...sorry

BornAgainMac · May 27, 2007, 02:14 PM

I am curious how much of my iTunes library is EMI music. I hope most of my music is EMI convertible.

mduser63 · May 27, 2007, 02:17 PM

I don't honestly know how much EMI music I have, but I do plan to upgrade all of it to DRM-free.

nagromme · May 27, 2007, 02:28 PM

The new higher-quality DRM-free albums will (unlike singles) cost no more than the old ones cost.

So I'm curious to see what the upgrade cost will be, per-album, or whether it will simply be .30 per song. (Which would mean $3-$4 to upgrade a whole album.)

I'll upgrade my favorite artists, but not everything.

Note regarding albums you own only part of: depending on how albums can be upgraded (if at all), it may be economical to Complete Album (buy your missing songs) first and then upgrade the whole album, rather than just upgrading the singles you have.

We'll know soon...

kfury77 · May 27, 2007, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mduser63

I don't honestly know how much EMI music I have, but I do plan to upgrade all of it to DRM-free.

You can find out here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of..._signed_to_EMI

I too am going to upgrade all of my music, not to make it DRM-free, but for the higher sound quality.

mirffy · May 27, 2007, 02:41 PM

strangely enough i haven't found any artist so far, with single songs going for more than $ .99

at least that's the current status.

have they set the price for DRM-free music down to $ .99 already?

oh and something else that i just thought of:
does iTMS offer DRM-free music outside of the US/Canada aswell, or are we going to wait seemably "for ever" for that luxury - just like TV Series and Movies - here in Europe?

kfury77 · May 27, 2007, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mirffy

does iTMS offer DRM-free music outside of the US/Canada aswell, or are we going to wait seemably "for ever" for that luxury - just like TV Series and Movies - here in Europe?

DRM-free music is rolling out worldwide at the sametime to my knowledge. Remember the announcement actually took place in London for this, I'm positive it'll happen in Europe at sametime as the US.

eenu · May 27, 2007, 02:54 PM

now here is wondering if iTunes will overwrite the old file in my current folder structure or download it all again in to the iTunes structure.

flashy-cat · May 27, 2007, 03:01 PM

Tuesday please, oh, and movies for the UK. Thanks.

Eraserhead · May 27, 2007, 03:04 PM

I'm surprised no-one has mentioned the Powerbook G5 Beatles as the "exclusive".

eenu · May 27, 2007, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flashy-cat

Tuesday please, oh, and movies for the UK. Thanks.

never ever ever going to happen

ChuckG · May 27, 2007, 03:15 PM

It's quite a while since EMI and Apple announced new DRM-free music --more than enough to re-encode AAC files. In fact, more than enough for Apple to secure similar deals with the "other" labels.

I suspect that in order to make it all marketable, Apple may have held on to get the other labels on board. Apple's pragmatism makes me think they have something up their sleeve.

This week I expect a new iTunes update with full built-in lyrics download support, along with the new DRM-free lineup. Who knows, maybe there will also be a watermarking mechanism for DRM-free files to deter piracy.

Westside guy · May 27, 2007, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChuckG

I suspect that in order to make it all marketable, Apple may have held on to get the other labels on board. Apple's pragmatism makes me think they have something up their sleeve.

I'd be very happy if you're right - but I think you're wrong. Re-encoding the music isn't the time-eater in this transition; re-writing parts of ITMS and the back-end server management is probably what's taken so long.

cbrain · May 27, 2007, 03:40 PM

Will DRM free come to UK at the same time as everywhere else?

Porchland · May 27, 2007, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eraserhead

I'm surprised no-one has mentioned the Powerbook G5 Beatles as the "exclusive".

I wondered the same thing.

Apple Computer and Apple Corps settled their mark infringement dispute in February, and then EMI and Apple Corps settled their royalties dispute in April, so I'm thinking (maybe) Tuesday if finally the day iTunes will bring out the Beatles catalog.

Throw in "forty years ago today" of Sgt. Pepper coming later next week and Tuesday is starting to look like a pretty good bet.

Here's hoping the WWDC soundtrack is going to have a few Beatles songs.

eenu · May 27, 2007, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbrain

Will DRM free come to UK at the same time as everywhere else?

Yup it will

fblack · May 27, 2007, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mduser63

I don't honestly know how much EMI music I have, but I do plan to upgrade all of it to DRM-free.

me too as I only have about 25 ITMS bought tracks...

If they can bring the higher quality to more music I will become a regular buyer.

twoodcc · May 27, 2007, 04:02 PM

sounds good

EricNau · May 27, 2007, 05:03 PM

Considering there is only one week left in May, and Apple said that DRM-free music would be released during May, this "rumor" is hardly a surprise.

Flowbee · May 27, 2007, 05:29 PM

This will be a great first step. I look forward to the day when the other record companies fall in line.

It will be interesting to see if eMusic starts selling non-DRM tracks from EMI.

Nitrox · May 27, 2007, 05:45 PM

I'm not sure that the timing is good. If we upgrade now we'll have to pay 0.30$ per song. In a year or 2 apple will most likely offer even better quality and we will have to pay again. I might be wrong but apple and labels will have to find a way to make more money every year. I'll wait a bit!

nickgwyn · May 27, 2007, 05:55 PM

Apple's official statement:

http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2007/05/15itunes.html

Ha ze · May 27, 2007, 07:55 PM

With the new "premium" tracks, are we to see a new iTunes (7.2?) this week also? and with the iPhone coming so shortly would you think they'd just put it in now?

Peace · May 27, 2007, 08:29 PM

I'm guessing the "exclusive" Apple has with EMI is The Beatles also.

May 27, 2007, 02:03 PM	#2
OwlsAndApples macrumors 6502a Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: UK	It sounds like good news, even if i'm not going to be in a rush to download Macca's music. I hope EMI are going to be successful in their push for DRM-free music, and therefore others should follow. Or maybe they're just a 'brand on the run'...sorry __________________ Cyber Nations, A nation simulation game

May 27, 2007, 02:17 PM	#4
mduser63 macrumors 68030 Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Salt Lake City, UT	I don't honestly know how much EMI music I have, but I do plan to upgrade all of it to DRM-free. __________________ 20" 2.0 GHz iMac Core Duo, 1.5 GB RAM 12" 1.33 GHz Superdrive PowerBook G4, 768 MB RAM 2.0 GHz Black Core 2 Duo MacBook, 1 GB RAM

May 27, 2007, 02:28 PM	#5
nagromme macrumors 601 Join Date: May 2002 Location: Blinking blue dot	The new higher-quality DRM-free albums will (unlike singles) cost no more than the old ones cost. So I'm curious to see what the upgrade cost will be, per-album, or whether it will simply be .30 per song. (Which would mean $3-$4 to upgrade a whole album.) I'll upgrade my favorite artists, but not everything. Note regarding albums you own only part of: depending on how albums can be upgraded (if at all), it may be economical to Complete Album (buy your missing songs) first and then upgrade the whole album, rather than just upgrading the singles you have. We'll know soon... __________________ nagromme Would you like a treatment?

May 27, 2007, 03:15 PM	#13
ChuckG macrumors newbie Join Date: May 2007 Location: L.A.	EMI et al? It's quite a while since EMI and Apple announced new DRM-free music --more than enough to re-encode AAC files. In fact, more than enough for Apple to secure similar deals with the "other" labels. I suspect that in order to make it all marketable, Apple may have held on to get the other labels on board. Apple's pragmatism makes me think they have something up their sleeve. This week I expect a new iTunes update with full built-in lyrics download support, along with the new DRM-free lineup. Who knows, maybe there will also be a watermarking mechanism for DRM-free files to deter piracy.

May 27, 2007, 03:40 PM	#15
cbrain macrumors 65816 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: North-East, UK	Will DRM free come to UK at the same time as everywhere else? __________________ "Bring on the trumpets!" Late 2006 iMac 2.16 GHz Core 2 Duo i are MRoogle cat. please you step into MRoogle now. ToDo: Subscribe again.

May 27, 2007, 02:14 PM	#3
BornAgainMac macrumors 68030 Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Florida Resident	I am curious how much of my iTunes library is EMI music. I hope most of my music is EMI convertible.

May 27, 2007, 02:41 PM	#7
mirffy macrumors member Join Date: Feb 2007	strangely enough i haven't found any artist so far, with single songs going for more than $ .99 at least that's the current status. have they set the price for DRM-free music down to $ .99 already? oh and something else that i just thought of: does iTMS offer DRM-free music outside of the US/Canada aswell, or are we going to wait seemably "for ever" for that luxury - just like TV Series and Movies - here in Europe?

May 27, 2007, 02:54 PM	#9
eenu Banned Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Manchester, UK	now here is wondering if iTunes will overwrite the old file in my current folder structure or download it all again in to the iTunes structure.

May 27, 2007, 03:01 PM	#10
flashy-cat macrumors member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: UK	Tuesday please, oh, and movies for the UK. Thanks.

May 27, 2007, 03:04 PM	#11
Eraserhead Contributor Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Oxford, UK	I'm surprised no-one has mentioned the Powerbook G5 Beatles as the "exclusive".

May 27, 2007, 04:02 PM	#19
twoodcc macrumors 603 Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Right side of wrong	sounds good __________________ tville pump Smarter than the average bear

May 27, 2007, 05:03 PM	#20
EricNau macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Sacramento, CA	Considering there is only one week left in May, and Apple said that DRM-free music would be released during May, this "rumor" is hardly a surprise.

May 27, 2007, 05:29 PM	#21
Flowbee macrumors 68030 Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Alameda, CA	This will be a great first step. I look forward to the day when the other record companies fall in line. It will be interesting to see if eMusic starts selling non-DRM tracks from EMI. __________________ Podophile.com >> Home of Nike+iPod hacks and FAQs.

May 27, 2007, 05:45 PM	#22
Nitrox macrumors newbie Join Date: May 2007 Location: Montréal, Québec, Canada	Should we upgrade our EMI library now? I'm not sure that the timing is good. If we upgrade now we'll have to pay 0.30$ per song. In a year or 2 apple will most likely offer even better quality and we will have to pay again. I might be wrong but apple and labels will have to find a way to make more money every year. I'll wait a bit! __________________ Nitr x

May 27, 2007, 05:55 PM	#23
nickgwyn macrumors member Join Date: Sep 2006	Apple's take Apple's official statement: http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2007/05/15itunes.html

May 27, 2007, 07:55 PM	#24
Ha ze macrumors regular Join Date: Jul 2006	With the new "premium" tracks, are we to see a new iTunes (7.2?) this week also? and with the iPhone coming so shortly would you think they'd just put it in now?

May 27, 2007, 08:29 PM	#25
Peace macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: On top of the Storm Peaks waiting for the Time-Lost Proto Drake	I'm guessing the "exclusive" Apple has with EMI is The Beatles also.

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