I posted this on Apple Gazette as well, but it is worth mentioning here too.
Today, Apple and EMI are announcing that, in May, EMI will release its entire music catalog in iTunes completely DRM free, and encoded at 256 kbps AAC (for a supposedly lossless audio experience). All songs encoded at this higher rate, and DRM free will be available for $1.29.
Users will still be able to choose to download the lower quality audio files that are riddled with DRM for .99 cents if they choose.
What’s even more impressive, to me at least, is that users will be able to upgrade their existing library to the higher encoded audio files with no DRM for .30 cents a song.
This is an absolutely huge announcement.
Jobs went on in the press release to state that they fully expect to half half of the iTunes store available this way by the end of the year.
Rest in Peace, DRM. Today you received the first nail in your coffin.
[...] to admit that this is one of the best pro-consumer moves Microsoft has made lately. With this, and EMI’s decision to start selling DRM-free music, I think that this is one of the best months ever for [...]