Walmart seeks to keep lead - launches MP3 "DRM Free" music downloads

by Dolores Parker Aug 21st 2007

Aiming to keep its lead in the music retail market, Wal-Mart is launching DRM free MP3 music downloads at Walmart.com for 94 cents per track and $9.22 per album. The uber retailer's music catalog offers digital tracks from major record labels EMI and Universal. The new MP3 format allows customers to play music on most devices, including the ubiquitous iPod, iPhone and Zune players.

Universal followed EMI in announcing DRM free music to major retailers but bypassed iTunes, which is in third place behind Best Buy's second in the music retail market line-up. This is a good move for consumers, allowing competition and hopefully provide more options for the digital music buying public.

DRM free allows users the ability to play songs on any device without copyright protection software, which not only limits unauthorized copying of songs, but on which devices the songs can be played as well.

Sorry, Mac, and Linux users, no rollback for you - only Window's 2000, XP and Vista are supported.

Tags: DRM, EMI, iTunes, mp3, music download, MusicDownload, Universal, Walmart

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

emmzee said 5:24PM on 8-21-2007

If they're providing non-DRM MP3s, why would it be Windows only???

Alex M said 5:56PM on 8-21-2007

Check out the Downloads Help, then Technical Requirements. The first question says (among many other things): "Note: WMAs and WMVs you download from Walmart.com will not play on the Mac or Linux operating systems."

So, I'm guessing their "requirement" of a Windows OS for mp3 playback was just tacked on without any thought on it.

thehack said 6:06PM on 8-21-2007

Actually the requirement has to do with the manner of the download. You have to install a Wal-Mart download manager to get the content and it is windows only.

http://geekwonk.com/

Dolores Parker said 6:42PM on 8-21-2007

Good points. I wonder why? Think that's the easiest way for them to offer downloads but keep their costs down?

Abscissa said 6:59PM on 8-21-2007

What's the bitrate?

Nevermind, this is 2007 and they're using MP3. Wake me when someone offers Vorbis.

Mark said 11:51PM on 8-21-2007

LOL, Vorbis. Yeah that would make sense, using some format that hardly any portable players (or anything else) even support. Great idea!

Eric J. said 10:04AM on 8-22-2007

The bit rate, at least on what I bought yesterday is 256.

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