Warner Music Drops DRM on MP3 Tracks

Tue Jan 1, 2008 7:58PM EST

See Comments (8)

Great news, music lovers: Last week, Warner Music quietly joined Universal and EMI in offering DRM-free music downloads, at least on Amazon's new MP3 retail site. Want a quick, unencumbered track from Led Zeppelin, Bjork, Jason Mraz, Rush, or even Fat Joe? You got it.

Amazon claims a total of more than 2.9 million DRM-free tracks for sale now, nearly all at 89 or 99 cents. Most albums are under $10.

As with Universal, the DRM-free Warner tracks are only available through Amazon. Purchase the same tracks on iTunes and they'll include the usual restrictions, letting you play them only on "authorized" computers and iPods. Anyone still buying music there? Why?

Anyway... so when will Sony come to the party? No official news, but some figure that could happen by the end of the year. I'm hopeful but not optimistic that will happen. Sony has long had a vise-like grip on its content and takes ages to change its tune. (Think about how long the virtually unsupported ATRAC audio format and twice-as-expensive-as-SD Memory Sticks have been with us.) End of 2008? I think that's a possibility, but I'm not holding my breath.

LINK: 3 down, 1 to go: Warner Music Group drops DRM

Comments on Warner Music Drops DRM on MP3 Tracks

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  • 2 Posted by muscogeekid on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:30PM EDT Report Abuse

    Chris, it's great to have you back. I look forward to your brief, but informative blogs every day. But, I think the word you were looking for was vise, not vice.

  • 4 Posted by d_may@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:50PM EDT Report Abuse

    I am a new user to Amazon, just keeps getting better, now I can get the Led Zeppelin album I have been wanting.

  • 6 Posted by rorbincalendar on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:51PM EDT Report Abuse

    I stumbled on this fact on Monday while surfing Amazon's site and discovered the entire Led Zeppelin catalog DRM FREE including the new totally remastered Mothership greatest hits album. I downloaded it instantly!_____Why would anyone shop anywhere but Amazon?

  • 7 Posted by rogueist on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:49PM EDT Report Abuse

    I am not a fan of Amazon's service at all - especially for video. Proprietary formats and proprietary players dont do it for me. I'll take Apple's iTunes any day. Nothing to keep me from burning a CD and re-ripping it in whatever format I want.

  • 8 Posted by jd_1876 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:31PM EDT Report Abuse

    I suppose Amazon is fine, but for music, I like iTunes. I trust them for music, especially because there are so many application that let you download pirated music.

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