Rolls out EMI's catalog in 256kbps AAC format.Yesterday I mentioned how PayPlay.FM was releasing 1.3 million DRM-free Indie tracks at 88 cents per song, well, today Apple officially launched its much anticipated iTunes Plus, a DRM-free addition to the regular iTunes store that will offer DRM-free tracks from EMI's extensive music catalog at $1.29 USD a song. Available tracks include singles and albums from Coldplay, The Rolling Stones, Norah Jones, Frank Sinatra, Joss Stone, Pink Floyd, John Coltrane and more than a dozen of Paul McCartney’s classic albums available on iTunes for the first time. iTunes will continue to offer its entire catalog, currently over five million songs, in the same versions as today—128 kbps AAC encoding with DRM—at the same price of 99 cents per song, alongside the higher quality iTunes Plus versions when available. In addition, iTunes customers can now upgrade their library of previously purchased EMI content to iTunes Plus tracks for 30 cents a song and $3.00 for most albums. “Our customers are very excited about the freedom and amazing sound quality of iTunes Plus,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “We expect more than half of the songs on iTunes will be offered in iTunes Plus versions by the end of this year.” “This is a tremendous milestone for digital music,” said Eric Nicoli, CEO of EMI Group. “Consumers are going to love listening to higher quality iTunes Plus tracks from their favorite EMI artists with no usage restrictions.” With the release of iTunes Plus, customers can now download tracks from their favorite EMI artists without limitations on the type of music player or number of computers that purchased songs can be played on. iTunes is also offering customers a simple, one-click option to easily upgrade their library of previously purchased EMI content to the iTunes Plus versions. EMI music videos are now also available in iTunes Plus versions with no change in price. iTunes Plus songs purchased from the iTunes Store will play on all iPods, Mac, or Windows computers, widescreen TVs with Apple TV and soon iPhones, as well as many other digital music players. The march toward a DRM-free music world continues, for when it comes down to it, people want to do with their music purchases as they please, and those that offer such a choice will inevitably be the winner in the fight for digital music customers.
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this is like DVD owners being offered the right to a fair use copy for another 5 bucks or blu-ray/hd-dvd disc owners the right to view the content as it was intended for 'only 10 bucks'
I love the quote: “This is a tremendous milestone for digital music,” said Eric Nicoli, CEO of EMI Group. “Consumers are going to love listening to higher quality....with no usage restrictions."
Somebody has to tell this guy we can do this already...by sharing music ripped for CD's on any P2P network!