iTunes: DRM-free at last?


Rumors come and rumors go, but few have the staying power of the DRM-free iTunes Store story. Yes, we've already seen supposed announcements pass, but this time, and we mean "this time," things are looking (mostly) up.

News.com (via AppleInsider reports that DRM-free deals between Apple and Universal / Warner / Sony were inked last week, and could be announced as soon as Tuesday's morning's Philnote address:

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Apple Store


☺❝The good news is that the price of catalog music is falling to 79 cents per song. The labels will get an opportunity to price some hit songs for more than 99 cents but eventually those songs will drop to 79 cents, according to one source❞--News.com

☹ ❝Before iTunes users get too worked up [about price increases], they should remember that song prices at iTunes haven't increased in five years. According to the Consumer Price Index, a 99-cent song in 2002 would be worth $1.17 today❞--News.com

Well, with Apple on board for variable pricing, the world can expect price increases across the board--Amazon, Rhapsody, Napster, etc. Everyone's going to start charging more for new releases and hot titles--oh well.

Yes, this also means that "Nice Price" albums will also multiply and in the world content it's all about the back catalog. So, not a perfect victory, but we're finally (sooner or later) DRM-free at last.

Am I irked about paying more, pennies more for music? No, but it means the record companies will bleed to death more slowly and who hasn't had enough of their bleeting already...

What's your take?

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