Apple Inc has agreed to start selling digital songs from its iTunes store without copy protection software.At present, most music downloaded from Apple’s iTunes store can only be played through an iTunes interface or iPod.The agreement with Sony BMG, Universal, and Warner Music will end digital rights management (DRM) software currently attached to iTunes music.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7813527.stmApple drops DRM copy protection from millions of iTunes songs
The millions of songs available for download from Apple will no longer be tied only to iPods and customers will be able to transfer their tracks freely.Apple today announced that its entire iTunes music catalogue will soon be available without any copy protection, after agreeing a new deal with the world’s major record labels.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/jan/06/apple-drops-itunes-copy-protectionWant to Copy iTunes Music? Go Ahead, Apple Says
In moves that will help shape the online future of the music business, Apple said Tuesday that it would remove anticopying restrictions on all of the songs in its popular iTunes Store and allow record companies to set a range of prices for them.Beginning this week, three of the four major music labels — Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group — will begin selling music through iTunes without digital rights management software, or D.R.M., which controls the copying and use of digital files. The fourth, EMI, was already doing so.
http://nytimes.com/2009/01/07/technology/companies/07apple.htmlUpgrading to a DRM-free iTunes library will cost you
Apple and the three largest music labels didn’t take any half steps in walking away from copy-protection software at Macworld 2009 Tuesday.
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An Apple spokesman offered more details: Users of iTunes can now upgrade their music libraries with a click of a button. For an additional 30 cents per song, a user can receive a DRM-free version of their existing tracks at a 256-kbps bit rate.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-10132759-37.htmlApple strips iTunes of digital rights management
Apple is offering millions of songs free of copy protection on its iTunes digital music store, allowing buyers to play the music they purchase on all devices, not only Apple products.
http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article5461500.eceApple offers variable pricing, more DRM-free music on iTunes
After fighting with record labels over its everything-for-99-cents stance, Apple today said it would finally start offering different songs at different prices. Apple is the No. 1 music seller in the U.S., so the fact that it’s finally doing what capitalists everywhere have always done — charge more for, say, a hot new Lil Wayne track and less for an old tune by Yanni — is sure to ripple through the music industry and could give consumers more reasons to buy digital downloads.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2009/01/apple-blinks-st.htmlITunes embraces 3-tier pricing, will remove anti-copy software
With the lure of every song for 99 cents, Apple Inc.’s iTunes upended the retail establishment to become the nation’s top music seller in less than six years.But the digital media powerhouse said Tuesday it would follow one of the oldest tenets of capitalism: The more someone wants something, the more you can charge for it.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-itunes7-2009jan07,0,4241351.storyChanges Coming to the iTunes Store [news release]
- All Songs DRM-Free
- Users Can Download Songs Directly Onto iPhone 3G Over Their 3G Network for the Same Price
- In April 2009, Songs on iTunes Will be Available at Three Price Points
Apple® today announced several changes to the iTunes® Store. Beginning today, all four major music labels — Universal Music Group, Sony BMG, Warner Music Group and EMI, along with thousands of independent labels, are now offering their music in iTunes Plus, Apple’s DRM-free format with higher-quality 256 kbps AAC encoding for audio quality virtually indistinguishable from the original recordings. iTunes customers can also choose to download their favorite songs from the world’s largest music catalog directly onto their iPhone™ 3G over their 3G network just as they do with Wi-Fi today, for the same price as downloading to their computer. And beginning in April, based on what the music labels charge Apple, songs on iTunes will be available at one of three price points: 69 cents, 99 cents and $1.29, with most albums still priced at $9.99.”We are thrilled to be able to offer our iTunes customers DRM-free iTunes Plus songs in high quality audio and our iPhone 3G customers the ability to download music from iTunes anytime, anywhere over their 3G network at the same price as downloading to your computer or via Wi-Fi,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “And in April, based on what the music labels charge Apple, songs on iTunes will be available at one of three price points — 69 cents, 99 cents and $1.29 — with many more songs priced at 69 cents than $1.29.”iTunes offers customers a simple, one-click option to easily upgrade their entire library of previously purchased songs to the higher quality DRM-free iTunes Plus format for just 30 cents per song or 30 percent of the album price. The iTunes Store will begin offering eight million of its 10 million songs in Apple’s DRM-free format, iTunes Plus, today with the remaining two million songs offered in iTunes Plus by the end of March.iPhone 3G users can now preview and purchase the entire iTunes Store music catalog on their iPhone 3G over their 3G network, just as they do with Wi-Fi today, for the same price and in the same high quality format. Songs purchased on an iPhone will automatically sync to a user’s computer the next time they sync their iPhone.The iTunes Store is the world’s most popular online music, TV and movie store with a catalog of over 10 million songs, over 30,000 TV episodes and over 2,500 films including over 600 in stunning high definition video. With Apple’s legendary ease of use, pioneering features such as iTunes Movie Rentals, integrated podcasting support, the ability to turn previously purchased tracks into complete albums at a reduced price, and seamless integration with iPod® and iPhone, the iTunes Store is the best way for Mac® and PC users to legally discover, purchase and download music and video online.Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning computers, OS X operating system and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital media revolution with its iPod portable music and video players and iTunes online store, and has entered the mobile phone market with its revolutionary iPhone.
http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2009/01/06itunes.html