News
EMI, Apple holding joint announcement tomorrow [updated]
EMI will reportedly hold a press event in London on Monday with Apple CEO Steve Jobs as a special guest. In an invite sent to select media today, EMI, which has released the Beatles records since 1962, said it was announcing an “exciting new digital offering” and that there will be a “special live performance” at the event by an unnamed artist or band. The event follows months of speculation that Apple’s iTunes Store would be the first to offer music from the Beatles online following an agreement between Apple and the Beatles’ Apple Corps record label.
Update: An EMI spokesman said this was not an April Fool’s joke.
Update #2: A Reuters source “familiar with the situation” said a Beatles deal would not be announced at the event. “There is no Beatles’ announcement,” the source said.
Update #3: The Wall Street Journal now reports: “In a major reversal of the music industry’s longstanding antipiracy strategy, EMI Group PLC is set to announce Monday that it plans to sell significant amounts of its catalog without anticopying software, according to people familiar with the matter. The London-based music company is to make its announcement in a press conference that will feature Apple Inc. Chief Executive Steve Jobs. EMI is to sell songs without the software—known as digital rights management, or DRM—through Apple’s iTunes Store and possibly through other online outlets, too.”
Share This Article & Win an iTunes Gift Card. Next: EMI announces DRM-free, higher quality music on iTunes
Previous: Apple drops 5G iPod prices in UK
Comments
If you have a comment, news tip, advertising inquiry, or coverage request, a question about iPods or accessories, or if you sell or market iPod products or services, read iLounge's Comments + Questions policies before posting, and fully identify yourself if you do. We will delete comments containing advertising, astroturfing, trolling, personal attacks, offensive language, or other objectionable content, then ban and/or publicly identify violators.
Recent News
- Enter the CES Exhibits Plus Pass Giveaway today
- Wider distribution boosting iPhone sales in France
- Chinon rolls out AVi portable iPod speaker
- TomTom intros separate Car Kit for iPod touch
- iLounge and MusicSkins announce the Ultimate Design Contest
- Latest edition of iPodweek coming shortly
- Apple planning more iPod touch apps for retail?
- Gameloft, others cutting back on Android development
- Google launches Google News for iPhone, iPod touch
- Magellan releases RoadMate app, Car Kit coming
Recent Reviews
- Electronic Arts Command & Conquer Red Alert
- Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Mini
- iHome iHM79 Rechargeable Mini Speakers
- Elexa Consumer Products iBlink
- Bose SoundDock 10
- Shure SE115m+ Sound Isolating Headset
- Apple Remote (2009)
- Kensington Travel Battery Pack and Charger for iPhone
- Tapulous Metallica Revenge
- Electronic Arts NBA Live by EA Sports
Recent Articles
- The Complete Guide to Using the iTunes Store
- iPhone Gems: Brain Challenge 2, Impossible Quiz, Jeopardy, Trivia Wars + Wheel of Fortune
- The Complete Guide to Album Tagging, Art and Playlists in iTunes
- Ask iLounge 11-13-09
- The Complete Guide to iTunes Audiobooks, Podcasts + iTunes U
- Ask iLounge 11-6-09
- iPhone Gems: Asphalt 5 and Doom Classic
- Ask iLounge 10-30-09
- Instant Expert: Secrets & Features of Apple TV 3.0
- Ask iLounge 10-23-09
1
Hey, maybe they are announcing that the EMI catalog will be offered DRM free on iTunes?
Posted by wldkt619 on April 1, 2007 at 5:18 PM (PDT)
2
I bet it’s still the beatles thing… I don’t care what that one dude said.
Posted by brent on April 1, 2007 at 5:40 PM (PDT)
3
I really have a hard time seeing this happening.
But I still hope for it!!
Posted by jeremyjk1221 on April 1, 2007 at 7:45 PM (PDT)
4
Holy Schnikes! No DRM?
Posted by Galley in Greenville, SC on April 1, 2007 at 8:45 PM (PDT)
5
God… I was so excited, too :(
It’s not really that big of a deal for me because like I just download stuff and put it on my iPod. Whatever.
What artists are all on EMI?
Posted by brent on April 1, 2007 at 9:00 PM (PDT)
6
brent, you are part of the problem.
EMI is one of big four record companies. Huge slice of the market.
Posted by Japester on April 1, 2007 at 10:57 PM (PDT)
7
Uh, no Brent isn’t part of the problem. The guy who posts songs for download on Limewire is part of the problem. The guy who lets a friend rip copies of all his cds is part of the problem. The guy who purchases music and doesn’t share it is part of the solution.
Posted by Bart Lee on April 1, 2007 at 11:26 PM (PDT)
8
Apple is seriously going to convince the record labels to drop DRM just so they can allow people on your iPhone Book access to listen to what all their contacts are listening to by clicking play?
Posted by Jason Loop on April 2, 2007 at 1:57 AM (PDT)
9
i’ve not seen anything about this so far… but what would happen to our current drm’d files? will they release a tool to strip the drm from them, or can we download the emi ones again?
Posted by daniel n on April 2, 2007 at 3:09 AM (PDT)