EMI goes DRM Free on iTunes Store
Apple and EMI announced today that the music label will begin selling all of its music through the iTunes Store, DRM-free. During a press conference in London this morning, EMI said that all of its unprotected tracks will be available from the iTunes Store for $1.29 and that customers will be able to upgrade their already-purchased EMI tracks for 30¢ if they so choose.
EMI and Apple said that the bit rate of EMI's tracks will be bumped up as well.
EMI said that the iTunes Store will be the first to carry its higher-quality, unprotected music. The company will also be selling unprotected music videos through iTunes with no change in price, and plans to continue selling full upgraded albums at the existing wholesale prices.
One side effect: other music labels may now feel pressure to join EMI in dropping DRM through iTunes. There is no doubt that the rest of the Big Four will be watching this move very closely.
Beatles on iTunes?
It had been rumored this EMI announcement was that the Beatles' music would be available on iTunes. Well since this wasn't the case, where are all those rumor forecasters with their follow-up prediction?