Skip to Content

Free TUAW iPhone app -- try it now!
AOL Tech

Filed under: Audio, Internet

Sony BMG dropping DRM

Sony BMG artistsDRM is dead, long live the MP3. OK, dead might be an overstatement, but Sony BMG is the latest major record label planning to offer music in the unrestricted MP3 format. For years, Sony, EMI, Universal, and Warner have insisted on using digital rights management software to limit music piracy. But now each of the major four labels is offering up at least a portion of its library in DRM-free MP3 or AAC formats.

Why the change? Partly because as time goes by and consumers are used to paying for music from online retailers like iTunes or Amazon MP3, fewer people are turning to pirate networks to get free music. But more importantly, over the last few years Apple has developed a near-monopoly on the music download business. And while the record labels are certainly profiting from their relationship with Apple, they also don't want to be locked into selling their music through just one channel. By offering DRM-free music, they can help boost Amazon MP3 and other online music retailers that are competing with Apple.

It's not clear how much of Sony BMG's library will be available DRM-free. But the company does plan to participate in Amazon and Pepsi's upcoming Super Bowl promotion to give away 1 billion DRM-free tracks.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Featured Time Waster

Graveyard Shift - zombie-busting Time Waster

With Halloween fast approaching, it's a great time to get in some practice defending your territory against zombies. In Graveyard Shift, you take aim at zombies and other creepy-crawlies, blasting them into splatters of cartoony green guts. It's a casual first-person shooter, and it's very easy to get the hang of - use the mouse to aim, click to fire. Graveyard Shift has at least 15 levels, and it might even have some secret stages I haven't unlocked yet. They key to getting good at Graveyard Shift is learning to use ...

View more Time Wasters

Featured Galleries

Defective by Design, London: Protest Pictures
Microsoft Security Essentials
Chromium Pre-Alpha on CrunchBang Linux
Safari 4 Beta
10 Firefox themes that don't suck
IE8 RC1
Download Squad at the Crunchies After-Party
Download Squad at the Crunchies
WordPress 2.7
Cooking Mama: Mama Kills Animals
Windows 7 Hands On
Comodo Internet Security
Android First-look: Amazon.com MP3 Store
Android First-look: Twitroid
Google Reader Android
Android Hands-On
Twine 1.0
Photoshop Express Beta
Mozilla Birthday Cake
Palm stuff
Adobe Lightroom 1.1

 


Follow us on Twitter!

Flickr Pool

www.flickr.com

More Tech Coverage

AOL Radio

Joystiq

TUAW

Daily Finance

Autoblog

Urlesque

Engadget

WoW

Switched.com

FanHouse