iTunes to sell songs without rights restrictions

Cory Bergman April 2nd, 2007

Apple and EMI, the world’s third largest music company, have agreed to sell songs on iTunes with twice the file size and without digital rights management for a .30 premium. You can also upgrade your existing EMI songs by just paying the 30 cents. “We believe that offering consumers the opportunity to buy higher-quality tracks and listen to them on the device or platform of their choice will boost sales of digital music,” said EMI’s chief executive, Eric Nicoli. He’s right, and it’s about time. Let’s hope both Apple and the music industry embrace the new DRM-free world and empower customers to listen to music we’ve purchased any way we’d like.

Adds Sam in comments: “When I first saw this, I was sure it was an April Fool’s joke.”