News
iTunes adds early links to DRM-free music from holdout labels
By Charles Starrett
Senior Editor, iLounge
Published: Tuesday, November 25, 2008
News Category: iTunes
New links found on the iTunes Store suggest that Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, and Sony BMG may finally begin offering DRM-free iTunes Plus tracks through the service. Most notably, users have begun seeing tracks from the three labels appearing in the “Upgrade My Library” area of the store, which offers users a one-click option to upgrade past DRMed iTunes Store purchases to higher quality, DRM-free iTunes Plus versions. As shown in the screenshot, some of the recordings are appearing in this area without pricing or links to purchase, suggesting that Apple may be considering alternative pricing for these new DRM-free tracks, or may perhaps be looking to move all music on the store to a DRM-free format, effectively doing away with the iTunes Plus moniker and lowering prices for currently-offered iTunes Plus tracks to match those of normal songs. A report from last week suggested Apple was in talks with the three labels in hopes of offering DRM-free versions of their songs on the Store, but the talks were said to be in the preliminary stages. Apple has yet to comment on the matter.
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1
There appears to be other changes going on. Specifically I noticed when I tried to upgrade my existing purchases to iTunes plus the attempt failed with a message saying the item I tried to purchase had changed while I was using the iTunes store. Thinking it was a glitch I went to the iTunes Plus FAQ and there was all kinds of interesting tidbits there. Specifically:
“iTunes Plus songs, music videos, and albums are available at the same price as DRM-protected content.”
“Music on the store available in iTunes Plus will no longer be available as 128 kbs and with DRM”
Posted by Rand on November 25, 2008 at 8:44 AM (PDT)
2
Those tidbits have been there for a while, ever since the price reduction from $1.29/track to $0.99/track. It only refers to music that *is* available as iTunes Plus.
Once this stuff gets links to purchase, however, it should also apply to those.
Posted by Jeremy Avalon on November 25, 2008 at 8:58 AM (PDT)
3
Prediction #1: All current 99 cent tracks will be available in DRM-free 256Kbps AAC.
Prediction #2: iTunes Plus tracks will be available in DRM-free Apple Lossless for $1.29.
They can sell a 2GB video file for $1.99, so surely then call sell 25MB audio files for $1.29.
Posted by Galley in Greenville, SC on November 25, 2008 at 9:27 AM (PDT)
4
iTunes plus link is not up on the store for me currently.
Posted by studogvetmed in Loveland, CO on November 25, 2008 at 1:00 PM (PDT)
5
Going to be one heck of a download if they allow everyone to upgrade everything from 128K to 256K for free.
Posted by otaku on November 26, 2008 at 9:16 AM (PDT)