Amazon to Sell DRM-Free MP3s?

Thu Dec 21, 2006 4:18PM EST

See Comments (27)

Right now this is just conjecture, but it's pretty hefty conjecture: Amazon may enter the music download market at the end of the first quarter of 2007. That's not the big news, though: The big news is the rumor that it would be selling MP3s without any DRM attached.

Frankly, that would be a first, assuming Amazon sells music from major, RIAA-represented labels. eMusic sells DRM-free music, but only from independent labels. Apple, Microsoft, Napster, and everyone else in this crowded marketplace all have DRM on their downloads—none of which are compatible with each other.

For many users, abhorrent DRM is the last step preventing them from dumping CDs and going online for all their music. Sure, it's relatively easy to strip DRM from tracks, but it takes time and usually costs money in the form of burning a CD and then reripping it to your computer. Frankly, it's just a big pain. So, for what it's worth: Amazon, if you really pull this off and sell your songs for a reasonable price (I'll even pay an extra nickel for them), I'll buy all my music from you (though people have also been speculating that Amazon will charge a variable price for music instead of a flat 99 cents, etc.).

Then again, this DRM-free business may all be hokum and rank rumor. After all, Amazon has what could charitably be described as a horrible record when it comes to DRM and digital media. Case in point: Its disastrously received Unbox video download service, which will certainly appear on many "Worst Tech of 2006" lists alongside the Microsoft Zune.

Did Amazon learn a lesson with movies? Will it clean up its act for music? Stay tuned to find out and let Amazon know you want your MP3s (DRM-free) by posting a comment in support!

Comments on Amazon to Sell DRM-Free MP3s?

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  • 6 Posted by stockbat on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:45PM EDT Report Abuse

    I've posted the solution to this entire digital media distribution over the internet solution over 10 years ago. Nothing has changed. It's very simple and people are just now "Getting it". However greed still plays a key. $0.99 a song is insane. I've been in the industry since 1985 and know the score. $0.30 cents a song max is all it should be with a cut going to the artist/publisher and content provider/label (depending on contract). No one else. It's very simple. At that cost, everyone makes the same money as they used to and artists end up making more money because consumers appreciate the cost factor. Sad part is, no ONE company in the industry can do this because of the conflict of interest. Warner Bros isn't about to sell Sony or MTV items, etc. An independent would have to step up and handle this - It's all very simple. Red tape stands in the way and $1.00 a song is insulting to the consumer as that just took that $8.99 CD costing you $12 with no artwork. No, that's rude people. $0.30 a song is MORE then enough especially with no production overhead or materials or postage, etc... Maybe one day someone will get with it. Or email me and we can consult :-D

  • 7 Posted by brwest16 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:14PM EDT Report Abuse

    i have always looked to Amazon as a model for what works in selling music. I think they may pull this off. I have recently tired of Apple, Itunes, Ipods, seeing that the dying battery and control over their mp4s was annoying. i would re-embrace amazon irf they were to produce mp3s on a pay per download without the music industry protections.

  • 8 Posted by aapl_dragon on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:43PM EDT Report Abuse

    This would be a lovely thing...but how will they get this past the music companies? Many have tried, all have failed.

  • 9 Posted by recehc on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:33PM EDT Report Abuse

    If they really do this, I'm in too...

  • 10 Posted by danhaueter on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:35PM EDT Report Abuse

    I don't mind paying for music, but I can't stand restrictions on how and where I use it

  • 11 Posted by ragefan2k4 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:27PM EDT Report Abuse

    Good idea, bad price. $0.99 per song is a rip off. It's simple economics - if you continue to **** over the consumer, the consumer will continue to find ways to **** over the industry. However, offer a fair price for music, a luxury that most of us could live without, and many will buck the trend of going through the hassle of downloading songs illegaly and dealing with broken/corrupt files, slow download speeds, unavailable tracks, poor quality tracks, edited tracks, cut-off tracks and now lawsuits. Set up a nice, fast downloading store with a nice interface and most importantly, a decent price, and you will see illegal downloads nosedive when word gets out. $1 a song isn't going to cut it. I'd say 20 cents a song, tops. I remember using allofmp3.com before the Russians were pressured not to accept any US credit cards. 5-10 cents per song. I spent $50 there. That's $50 more than I spent buying albums in stores in over 10 years.

  • 12 Posted by donlprice on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:46PM EDT Report Abuse

    When I was a young man I was given a bicycle for my birthday. It was a Schwinn. I ended up letting it rust in the back yard. I had worked for a whole week to make the money to buy some attachments (lights mirrors etc) I went to put them on and nothing fit. Nothing would clamp bolt or screw to the frame etc. (Schwinn purposely made their bikes with different sized frame, bars, Just so you would have to buy their high priced Accessories,,I was heart broken and never touched the bike again. That's how I felt when I went to Wal Mart's Music service and purchased 20 songs. When I loaded the songs into my three boy's new MP3 player's and they wouldn't play ! ARRRRRRg.....It took me two days of using this newfangled machine to read up on DRM. Please-- Anyone who would sell a Song or CD with ownership rights as one does with an over the counter Store purchase. I would buy only from them. I am 64 and would really dig being able to use that kind of service as well as my three boy's personal purchase's from their allowance.

  • 13 Posted by leepa43 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 6:48PM EDT Report Abuse

    Technology and the thieves that rip pirated content are the future. Get used to it. All these competeting formats drives me crazy. I understand the artist point of view, but it might lead into getting other (legally acquired)albums from the artist. I am fan of dance music (Drum and Bass, House, reggae, Techno) mostly from the UK and France. I tend to stay away from major labels for music anyway. But as posted above from dandkb1988 "Sell quality mp3 (320k, NOT 128), and I'm your customer forever.", that is the key free of DRM.

  • 14 Posted by gsmith77063 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:14PM EDT Report Abuse

    It is time!!! The DRM restrictions go far beyond just helping the record industry. They present restrictions on my right to copy, back-up, etc my music. Go for it!

  • 15 Posted by goldphysh on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:11PM EDT Report Abuse

    DRM is dead. The crown will go to whomever figures out a way to sell music files without it. I'm in.

  • 16 Posted by shivanand_solomon on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:20PM EDT Report Abuse

    if Amazon does this, then that would be great for international customers, cause those other messed up sites like urge dont cater for us. So i really hope Amazon can pull thru with this.

  • 17 Posted by wordswirth on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:49PM EDT Report Abuse

    Yeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaahhh!! I support companies that think "outside the box" like Linux, Mozilla, Yahoo, Google, etc. and would support the downloading of music without DRM. Let the customer manage their own music without nasty restrictions.

  • 19 Posted by debi77084 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:39PM EDT Report Abuse

    There is something to say for those of us that stay behind the times! I am a mother and grandmother and have no desire to go through the agrrivation it seems all of you are going through. I know my sons do not have the time to go through it with their kids either. Make it SIMPLE and AFFORDABLE. Even if people have the know how who has the time to put forth so much effort? I can't believe no one has come up with a solution yet. Until they do I will not buy any of the little gadgets!!

  • 20 Posted by westpty on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:43PM EDT Report Abuse

    ...hum.... one of these days....they will charge you for the air you are breathing...all in the name of business....or should i say...how much money did i make in the last quarter-semester-year...... ...hum.-....

  • 22 Posted by jvalenciae on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:45PM EDT Report Abuse

    Only once i bought some music with DRM, and, im not doing it again, ever. I find funny how much the industry spend trying to protect their things so right after something comes out it gets ripped, or even before. In the end, the ones really being affected by all this DRM crap are the ones who legally buy the products. They have to deal with incompatibilities, not being able to transport their music around, high prices, and even low quality, while illegal music its much more simple, use standard formats, have high quality, and once you buy your song you can just take it anywhere you go. Its, ridiculous. If amazon really start selling high quality mp3 (i like ogg better tho) without DRM crap, im in for sure!

  • 23 Posted by axisdjs on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:00PM EDT Report Abuse

    I would like to see DRM free music for sale. buying songs @.99 is much more expensive than buying CD's anyway. Especially in the bargain bin where even some relatively new material goes for less than $7.00. If we pay $1.00 for a tune, we should have the same right to use as if we purchased a 45, CD single or any other format

  • 24 Posted by isaacs_flight on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:25PM EDT Report Abuse

    I agree with dandkb1988. High quality files please, and I'd really like to be able to play them on MY digital player, not an iJunk. 128kbps just has too much distortion in it. If not the 320 that dandkb suggested, at least 192 or so. I mean come on, almost every one has DSL these days, and those with dialup still can download it reasonably quickly. Ooooh, here's an idea that never occured to the music industry: Different bitrates! Woooooow! You select the quality you want.

  • 25 Posted by dharris2112 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:42PM EDT Report Abuse

    Like most people have already said, put up QUALITY MP3's (320 fixed or VBR for less $), and do it for fair prices (

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