Apple Launches iTunes Plus: DRM Free Music Finally Here

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2007/05/30itunesplus.html' target='_blank'>http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2007/05/30itunesplus.html</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Apple today launched iTunes Plus—DRM-free music tracks featuring high quality 256 kbps AAC encoding for audio quality virtually indistinguishable from the original recordings—for just $1.29 per song. iTunes Plus is launching with EMI’s digital catalog of outstanding recordings, including singles and albums from Coldplay, The Rolling Stones, Norah Jones, Frank Sinatra, Joss Stone, Pink Floyd, John Coltrane and more than a dozen of Paul McCartney’s classic albums available on iTunes for the first time. iTunes will continue to offer its entire catalog, currently over five million songs, in the same versions as today—128 kbps AAC encoding with DRM—at the same price of 99 cents per song, alongside the higher quality iTunes Plus versions when available. In addition, iTunes customers can now easily upgrade their library of previously purchased EMI content to iTunes Plus tracks for just 30 cents a song and $3.00 for most albums."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/itunesplus_zoom.jpg" /><br />[image courtesy of <a href="http://digitalcameras.engadget.com/2007/05/30/itunes-plus-drm-free-music-now-official-er/">Engadget</a>]<br /><br />Here, finally, we have the official launch of DRM-free tracks from iTunes. I'm a little surprised they gave it the name of "iTunes Plus" - that might create some consumer confusion. I'll also be curious to see how many people will upgrade their music to the DRM-free versions - at 30 cents a pop, or $3 for an album, consumers with large iTunes collections might not be willing to do that - especially if they're happy iPod owners and don't see any value in doing so. Still, I've got to hand it to Apple: they're giving people a choice, which is more than that needed to do. Are you going to upgrade your iTunes library to "iTunes Plus" tracks? How much is that going to cost you?

[Vincent Ferrari]

Don't forget that albums are still going to be $9.99 so getting the DRM-free stuff from here on out will still be as cheap as getting the DRM-restricted stuff.

I think we're now finally going to see cracks in the wall of DRM.

Thank God.

[Jason Dunn]

Don't forget that albums are still going to be $9.99 so getting the DRM-free stuff from here on out will still be as cheap as getting the DRM-restricted stuff.

Indeed? That's very cool actually - I'm surprised Apple managed to get away with that with the music companies. Nice!

I wonder if iTunes in Canada has the DRM-free tracks?

[Chris Gohlke]

Hmmmm.... I might actually download iTunes and buy a few non DRM'd songs.

[jmulder]

Don't forget that albums are still going to be $9.99 so getting the DRM-free stuff from here on out will still be as cheap as getting the DRM-restricted stuff.

Indeed? That's very cool actually - I'm surprised Apple managed to get away with that with the music companies. Nice!

The music companies want to sell more albums instead of singles, so non-DRM'd albums for the same price are a nice incentive/upsell opportunity.

[Dyvim]

I'll probably upgrade. Right now, it'll cost me $0.60
Actually, that's one of my gripes: I have at least 2 other EMI tracks I've purchased that are available in the iTunes Plus format, but I don't get an option to upgrade them. What gives? I know iTunes has a record of every track I've purchased. I'd be willing to spend the $1.20 to upgrade all 4 tracks if I were given that option.

[ianbjor]

I'm currently downloading the 69 tracks that were (currently) available. $17.10. As more tracks become available I will upgrade them, too.

For me, the decision to do this is solely "voting with my dollars". I will pay the extra for DRM free music (and double the bit rate!) in the hopes that the other labels will recognize that DRM is stupid (especially when I can go buy a DRM-free CD).

[Doug Johnson]

No upgrading for me... But that's because I have refused to use iTunes in the past due to the DRM and the file format they have chosen.

With DRM-free music available now, I think I just might start buying music online.

[Jason Dunn]

With DRM-free music available now, I think I just might start buying music online.

It will be interesting to see how many more people are like yourself - will iTunes see even more growth now?

Myself, I think buying MP3s from Amazon makes more sense, so I'll wait and see how that shakes out...

[Tim Williamson]

Any non-DRM MP3's by chance? I don't want to be locked into using an iPod, so I'm glad Apple is making this move, but I'm still sticking with CD's.

[Jason Dunn]

Any non-DRM MP3's by chance? I don't want to be locked into using an iPod, so I'm glad Apple is making this move, but I'm still sticking with CD's.

No, Apple is using AAC - not MP3. Amazon will be using MP3 format.

[Chris Gohlke]

Installed and then promptly uninstalled. For some reason I assumed MP3. Bring it on Amazon.

[Vincent Ferrari]

Apple's only going to do it in AAC format, which is fine because 99% of the devices on the market play AAC anyway.

[The Yaz]

Whenever I've purchase music from iTunes, I've always taken the time to burn them to an audio CD and then re-ripped to MP3. That way I have the open format AND the physical backup in case something goes horribly wrong with my NAS.

[Dyvim]

Just bought an iTunes Plus album (an iTunes exclusive) for $9.99
I can report that the files play fine on my PocketPC using the AAC plugin for TCPMP or using CorePlayer (don't ask why I have both installed). Next I need to try them on my SLVR phone.

Because this album is only available via iTunes, it was a good choice for trying out the new format. For regular albums though, I think I'll stick to buying CD's.

Now if only they'd fix their upgrade my library function so that it would let me upgrade all the EMI tracks I've previously purchased and not just 2 of them...