Hey, folks. BIG NEWS. BIG! 
Yesterday, Apple announced that it would remove digital rights management software (DRM) from all music sold on iTunes. What does that mean?
Well, you know how if you buy music through iTunes, it comes in a weird file type that can’t be played on devices other than the iPod and iPhone, and it can’t be copied? Yeah, so… that’s over. And that’s MAJOR.
Consumers, and Apple, wanted the DRM software removed from songs for a while. They wanted to be able to copy purchased music from one computer to another, or to play the music on a non-Apple music player, or whatever. But the record labels didn’t want to provide DRM-free music (except EMI, which has already been giving DRM-free music through iTunes– thanks!). They felt that the 99-cent song price was too low to allow folks to just be copying all willy-nilly. And there’s your compromise…
In exchange for the other three major labels (Sony, Universal and Warner) providing DRM-free music, iTunes agreed to change its pricing structure. Starting in April, the majority of songs will be only 69 cents, while the biggest hits and newest songs will be $1.29. Tracks that are moderately popular are still 99 cents. Labels will have control over that.
This, I think, is good. The music biz has been floundering for years. In 2008, CD sales were 20% less than what they were in 2007, so you KNOW the labels were mad. Meanwhile, iTunes was doing alright, boasting 2.4 billion songs downloaded in 2008 alone! Now, labels will have more leverage in pricing their songs (for example, they can release popular tracks at $1.29, and keep the song’s life cycle going by decreasing the price later… like they used to do with CDs). And, iTunes is happy cuz more consumers will buy from them instead of other music sites (I, for one, started going to Amazon.com where I was able to get .mp3′s for the same price, without DRM restrictions on ‘em). Win-win situation. And who knows how this will help the music industry as a whole?! Nowhere to go, but UP.
What do y’all think???
FIRST! (For real this time...) So, I feel like we're moving into a no-cd-at-all zone. There really doesn't seem to be that much of a need for them as far as general consumers are concerned. I'm a little confused, though. I understand why people in places like New York, who commute largely by public transportation, would prefer downloads to their mp3 players, but I'm not sure why this is also preferred by people in other places and situations. Don't people driving cars to work still want to have cds? Apparently not. Anyone have any knowledge that I'm missing?
LOVE IT!!! It's way over due and the pricing compromise is fair. On Monday a friend of mine was trying to burn a song purchased from iTunes, but was unable to. He will be happy to hear about this development. Thanks for breaking the news to us EJ!
isn't the bit-rate or whatever u call it (192, 256 +/-) higher on Amazon's downloads anyway? I went over to them as well.. We'll see how this pans out. I still need the physical CD for credits (digital artwork is cool, but..) n such ... I don't see em disappearing too fast, but then again what do I know.. Next, I wish iTunes would separate the Christian/Gospel section or do a better job of advertising Gospel new releases..