iTunes goes DRM Free

**Cowutopia** · 06 Jan 2009, 02:29 PM

Apple announced today that:

10:28AM By the end of Q1, all 10M songs will be DRM free. Much applause.

10:27AM 2nd thing: iTunes Plus. Starting today: 8M songs DRM free.

and also a new pricing structure because of the music companies:

""Over the last six years songs have been $0.99 -- music companies want more flexibility. New pricing, $0.69, and another tier at $1.29.""

Here's a http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/conte...e137872b1944df

**B-Ri** · 06 Jan 2009, 02:39 PM

Sony STILL isnt itunes plus on itunes but they are on amazon mp3 store!

I am suspecting the last 2 mil are probably from sony

i also posted all of macworld on the apple thread.

**Dyne** · 06 Jan 2009, 02:43 PM

They still need an option like the Zune Pass.

**Advocate** · 06 Jan 2009, 02:43 PM

sounds cool. Oh and more news ...

Originally Posted by Engadget.com

While Phil hasn't mentioned it in the keynote just yet, it looks like iTunes might be getting a big catalog overhaul, with most major labels finally offering up DRM free tunes. Our tipster mentioned DRM free goodies from Virgin, Sony BMG, American Recording and more (iTunes Plus has mainly been limited to EMI and some independents so far), and that most previously purchased songs are now upgradable for the same old price of $0.30 a song. We're still digging around on the iTunes Store trying to figure this out -- it's offering to upgrade our library, but the transaction won't go through yet -- and we'll obviously know more if it gets a keynote mention. Let us know if you have any luck picking up those non-EMI MP3s on your end.

[Thanks, Greg]

Update: As you've you probably noticed in the liveblog, Apple just made this very much official, and announced that some 8 million songs will indeed be DRM free.

**Josh** · 06 Jan 2009, 02:43 PM

Originally Posted by Dyne

They still need an option like the Zune Pass.

Whats that?

**Drewbacca** · 06 Jan 2009, 02:48 PM

I download all my music illegally. The criminal aspect of it all really appeals to me. Am I downloading songs or a way of life? You decide.

**Dyne** · 06 Jan 2009, 02:49 PM

Originally Posted by Josh

Whats that?

$15 a month for all the music you can download. You can't burn it but you can have it on your PC or Zune. They just started a perk where you get to actually own 10 songs a month of your choosing and can use them like any other mp3.

**Drewbacca** · 06 Jan 2009, 02:51 PM

So essentially a buck a song and 5 bucks for the ability to d/l anything in the library with no-duplication strings attached. That's actually not too shabby.