DRM-Free Tunes on Sale at Wal-Mart

Tue Aug 21, 2007 11:43AM EDT

See Comments (214)

The retail giant just began selling digital music free from copy protection today, at just 94 cents per song, versus $1.29/song on iTunes. Let the DRM-free price wars begin!

Reuters is reporting that Wal-Mart's DRM-free music store is selling thousands of songs from labels such as EMI (which signed a DRM-free pact with Apple last April) and Universal Music (which recently announced that it was entering the DRM-free music fray, although not on iTunes). Even better, the copy protection-free tracks will go for just 94 cents a song, compared to the $1.29 premium that Apple is charging for its DRM-free music on iTunes.

Wal-Mart's new DRM-free music store will include tracks by artists such as the Rolling Stones, Amy Winehouse, and Maroon 5, according to Reuters, and you'll be able to snap up entire albums for $9.22 in addition to the 94 cents/song pricing scheme.

While I'm not exactly a huge Wal-Mart fan, I'd be more than happy to see retail behemoth force Apple to lower its own DRM-free music prices. While Apple and EMI deserve credit for opening the door to legit sales of copy protection-free music, the decision to raise DRM-free prices on iTunes to $1.29/song (compared to the standard 99-cents-a-song price for copy-protected tunes) seems wrong-headed, at best.

Update: In even more DRM-free news, Engadget is reporting that Universal has launched its "test" with Rhapsody, offering a limited selection of DRM-free songs from its catalog for 99 cents a song (or 89 cents/song for Rhapsody subscribers).

Related:
Wal-Mart selling digital music free of copy curbs [Yahoo! News/Reuters]

Comments on DRM-Free Tunes on Sale at Wal-Mart

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  • 46 Posted by ymi16 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:56PM EDT Report Abuse

    The comment in the article was that DRM-free songs on iTunes are 1.29. This is a true statement. The .99 songs include copy protection.

  • 47 Posted by barnumo1 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:02PM EDT Report Abuse

    DRM-Free songs are indeed $1.29. DRM-enabled songs remain $.99. Not that it matters to me as I despise Wal-Mart and go out of my way not shop there regardless of the price. I'd rather spend a few extra pennies than help a business that goes out of its way not to provide a living wage and health insurance to its employees.

  • 48 Posted by gmo101gmo on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:10PM EDT Report Abuse

    its 99 cents for a normal song......1.29 for drm-free songs!! but this should be interesting.

  • 49 Posted by gforce209 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:08PM EDT Report Abuse

    If you read the article with any comprehension you will know that .99 songs are copy right protected which means you can only play them on IPODS and apple stuff as well as only 5 computers. Itunes does offer songs for 1.29 which are free from those rules. So, it seems you both are wrong and the article is right.

  • 50 Posted by mossgoingdeep on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:26PM EDT Report Abuse

    I think DRM-free songs are different from the 99 cents songs. I think since the song is DRM-free, iTunes charges 30 cents more, so I think it is correct.

  • 51 Posted by wildphoenix960 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:46PM EDT Report Abuse

    This is so retarded........why can't they just make whole CD's at 5 dollars? (12 or so songs at about $11), which makes whole CD's being at 5 dollars half price, in the end you will gain more money and gain more customers.

  • 52 Posted by harpylady85 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:16PM EDT Report Abuse

    Wal-Mart is a present-day monopoly. As if Super Walmart's not enough for grocery shopping, electronics shopping and countless other things, now they're going after music. It was only a matter of time before they took on someone that can fight back. I'm cheering on ITunes.

  • 53 Posted by binxsiam on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:08PM EDT Report Abuse

    umm songs on itunes cost 99 cents not $1.29. (?_?)

  • 54 Posted by jph3ss on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:42PM EDT Report Abuse

    ive been seing songs at the price of 1.29 $ on iTunes so this is not incorrect for those who say it is. Im not sure why some songs are more or less...but ive definitely seen 1.29 priced songs

  • 55 Posted by dakingofslackers on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:34PM EDT Report Abuse

    Um, guys? Try reading the full article in depth before you bombast it. It states in the fifth paragraph that the copy-protection FREE songs are $1.29 per download, where as the copy-protected tunes are $.99 per track. iTunes offers a choice for most of the music it sells regarding the freedom you garner with your purchase.

  • 56 Posted by toffaloafa on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:14PM EDT Report Abuse

    it is 1.29 for the unprotected ones geniuses, 99 for the protected lower quality stuff

  • 58 Posted by tparich1 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:18PM EDT Report Abuse

    "the decision to raise DRM-free prices on iTunes to $1.29/song (compared to the standard 99-cents-a-song price for copy-protected tunes) seems wrong-headed, at best." He knows the normal songs cost .99 cents a song. He is talking about the DRM content in Itunes which is $1.29.

  • 59 Posted by cnaef56 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:27PM EDT Report Abuse

    Itunes chgs .99 for single song unless you choose to download their very limited songs without DRM protection - then it costs 1.29

  • 60 Posted by pjnunez1 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:13PM EDT Report Abuse

    Come people. READ. The article is about DRM-free songs which are $1.29. Regular songs are $.99. Jeez!

  • 61 Posted by afineline on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:46PM EDT Report Abuse

    Why on earth would ANYBODY "buy" music when one can get anything all day long for free. Don't you think the conglomo"rats" need some humbling . . . GO LIMEWIRE . . . Yahooooooooooo!!!!! It's been 10 years plus and I never bought one song ever!!

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

    Regular songs on iTunes do cost 99 cents. However the DRM-Free music does cost $1.29 like the article says. DRM-Free has no limit as to the amount of times you can copy a song.

  • 64 Posted by angiebfunny on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:54PM EDT Report Abuse

    songs are only 99 cents on itunes, and u can get them quickly and easily. ill always pick itunes over walmart

  • 65 Posted by rtlsimpson on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:55PM EDT Report Abuse

    Paul120000 - the problem with Walmart, is that by forcing competitors as well as their own suppliers to lower their prices, they are forcing the manufacturers to shut down their manufacturing plants here in the states and ship the manufacturing overseas in order to cut costs. They put every little mom and pop shop out of business - and provide less options for small town america to be gainfully employed. Walmart is the cancer on America's rear - and those of us who boycott it are the chemo. When a Walmart moves into a small town, and closes down the little guy - that little guy's only option sometimes is to go work for Walmart! With horrible benefits and even worse pay structure - it's not exactly the american dream.

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