Headlines

January 06, 2009

iTunes Finally Goes DRM-free, Front-Line MP3 Prices To Rise, Catalog Songs To Drop To 79 Cents...

New York Times | Read Full Story >

Apple has cut deals that will finally enable iTunes to offer songs free of copy protection software from the three largest music labels, according to two sources close to the negotiations. In exchange, Apple has agreed to become more flexible on pricing, the sources said.

Under the terms of the deal, song prices will be broken down into three categories—older songs from the catalog, midline songs (newer songs that aren’t big hits), and current hits—said one of the sources. Apple has offered songs free of digital rights management protections from EMI for more than a year. But EMI accounts for less than 10 percent of music sold in the U.S.; these new deals will expand iTunes’ DRM-free library to include songs from the other three major labels (Sony BMG, Universal, and Warner Music).



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