EMI Releases First Album With DRM-Free Option; Artists Selling Direct from Site
The role of Steve Jobs and iTunes in EMI’s announcement Monday that it would offer DRM-free versions of its digital library may have given people the wrong impression about what the label actually is doing. This is not an Apple-centric deal as the first announcement of a DRM-free album illustrated: today’s DRM-free release of the first EMI album in the new format—The Good, The Bad & The Queen—is available now for direct download from the band’s own site in 320kbps MP3 format for 99p per single and GBP7.99 for the album. (Memo to anyone who knows the people running the site: it’s way too clunky for words; I have at least four open windows now.) Each retailer will be able to choose the format it prefers to offer DRM-free. For instance, iTunes will sell 256kbps AAC.
—It’s also not a switch to DRM-free—it’s an added option. EMI isn’t doing with DRM; it’s offering a higher-cost alternative. That’s not to be sneezed at, mind you, but this isn’t the Berlin Wall coming down.
—The Guardian‘s Jack Schofield has more thoughts along these lines.
Related:
—EMI Drops DRM For New Premium Line-Up, Higher Price; Apple First
Posted In: Entertainment, Music, Legal, Companies, Apple, EMI, Countries
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Comments (0)
Apr 5, 2007 11:20 PM
Staci,
Hi, this may not be the Berlin Wall coming down, but it’s not too unlike it. The Berlin Wall came down after it was rendered moot by the opening of border crossings between East and West Germany. The fact that a legal and DRM-free alternative now exists at a premium underscores that appropriate pricing can find a price point that reflects the true value of DRM-free music. DRM-bound copies at a lower price point helps to underscore the value point for DRM-free content quite effectively. DRM will not disappear overnight but as with the Berlin Wall there will come a day when it just won’t matter any more. Further thoughts on ContentBlogger.
Apr 7, 2007 1:37 AM
It’s too bad the first DRM-free release is a crappy album by a crappy band.