More DRM-Free Music and iTunes Beatles Update

[MacRumors]

Several readers have noticed that music from different studios have started appearing in iTunes with a DRM free option. This would seem to confirm rumors that Apple is in late stage negotiations with studios about launching more DRM free music.

Forum user Doodledoo has been following it closely and found evidence of tracks from both Warner and Sony studios participating in iTunes Plus. Apple originally launched their DRM-Free iTunes Plus format with the support of only EMI but recent rumors have suggested Apple is working on winning over the other three majors studios (Warner, Sony, Universal).

Finally, the long rumored Beatles launch on iTunes may be a bit further off (if anyone still cares). Paul McCartney recently said that iTunes negotiations had stalled:

"The last word I got back was it's stalled at the whole moment, the whole process… I really hope it will happen because I think it should."

The Beatles/Apple Corps. and Apple have had a long running feud over the usage of the name "Apple". This disagreement was finally settled in 2007 in which Apple, Inc. now owns all the trademarks related to "Apple".

Article Link: More DRM-Free Music and iTunes Beatles Update

[Nick.]

Good! I hope more DRM-free music is to come in the near-future.

[hirshnoc]

LOL....nice one Arn.

[zombitronic]

Originally Posted by hirshnoc

LOL....nice one Arn.

You beat me to the (if anyone still cares) post. I was more put off by the comment, though, especially after reading all the Beatles hate posts lately. You can all go suck emo pop. Helter Skelter still rocks.

[arn]

Originally Posted by zombitronic

You beat me to the (if anyone still cares) post. I was more put off by the comment, though, especially after reading all the Beatles hate posts lately. You can all go suck emo pop. Helter Skelter still rocks.

It was more a comment about the seemingly endless "beatles on itunes" stories than being particularly anti-beatles .

arn

[schneb]

Buy used CDs on Amazon, burn via iTunes. Problem solved for a year now for me. And it was cheaper as well.

[zombitronic]

Originally Posted by arn

It was more a comment about the seemingly endless "beatles on itunes" stories than being particularly anti-beatles .

arn

Fair enough. I apologize. Not so much this particular thread, but some of our members and so-called music lovers need to be schooled. Respect your roots. A lot of good came from music of the past. If anything, I'd like to see the Beatles on iTunes just to introduce a new generation to where some of their favorite sounds came from.

[Sky Blue]

On a slightly related note, what ever happened to that CD remastering of The Beatles back catalogue?

[dhunwick]

With all due resect F the Beatles.

[/dev/toaster]

Originally Posted by dhunwick

With all due resect F the Beatles.

Agreed, nothing disgusts me more then someone who feels they are so far above everyone else that people should kiss the ground they walk on.

Same thing with Kiss, I never had a problem with them until I watched that reality show. Now, I have absolutely no respect for Gene Simmons. I think hes one of the biggest pieces of .... .

[EDdoc]

What? as a Boomer with disposable income I care.

[PlaceofDis]

i hope more and more labels jump onto the DRM free iTunes Plus. i won't even mind the upgrade fee for my previous purchased tracks. quite a few indie labels have gone DRM free too which is nice, hope it works out.

[DaveTheGrey]

Just release these Beatles albums for god's sake. Everybody has got them on cd. This rumor just won't die...
die rumor die!!!
(and no, "die" is not german)

[Honest Truth]

It seems that the itunes plus link has been added back again?

[Chundles]

Originally Posted by Honest Truth

It seems that the itunes plus link has been added back again?

Yep but there's nothing in my list to upgrade. There was yesterday but I was getting the "Status has changed and the item is now unavailable for purchase" error. Now those items are gone as well.

Curiouser and curiouser.

[ross.32]

None of my tracks are available to upgrade yet

I hope the labels allow every song to be bought with iTunes Plus!

[ross.32]

Hm...the iTunes plus songs seemed to have all been removed?

[Slevin]

Originally Posted by ross.32

Hm...the iTunes plus songs seemed to have all been removed?

Yup I can't update Hinder said I could be then it said I couldn't... man...

[Daphtdazz]

..."Sir" Paul McCartney to you

We Brits must hold on to our status symbols, you know...

[schooby41]

A clarification to the original article would be that the current hold-ups/delays in getting the Beatles into iTunes seems to have nothing to do with Apple(Computers)/iTunes, but is a hold up between Apple(Studios)/Beatles and EMI. See the Reuters article for details: http://www.reuters.com/article/music...4AO3JU20081125

[twoodcc]

this is good. i hope to see more DRM-free music and the beatles on itunes

[ntrigue]

We're just trying to listen to a bit of history on our iPods. Greedy pigs.

[morespce54]

Now, why would the whole process be stalled?

[cliffjumper68]

Right now you can buy the entire Beatles Catalog on CD and rip it into itunes. That is how the whole MP3 thing started before the itunes store opened. I think it is but a minor inconvenience, but certainly no hurdle to listen to this great band on your ipod. My favorite is "Hey Jude", it just has a great rhythm and authenticity to it. If I really want to enjoy the Beatles I always use my vinyl anyways since it has more warmth than digital recordings. That is my 2 cents!

[theBB]

If you enjoy Beatles in a casual way, they have enough hits on their "1" album. They are not a one or two hit wonder, so you would not be paying $10 or $15 just for a song or two. Thus, there is not much of a point to wait for its iTunes release. I don't know what makes Beatles right holders to think they are going to be such a groundbreaking addition to the store to make them worth some exceptionally special deal.

Most of the new customers will be those who are only interested in just one or two songs of them. It is hard to say these two songs of theirs are quite good, but others are not worth buying, so I cannot imagine that many people of that type. Besides, iTunes is well-known already, so it does not need any publicity that may come with a Beatles release.