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Apple to expand DRM-free music |
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Written by Nick Farrell
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Tuesday, 06 January 2009 12:06 |
One size will not fit all
Apple
has negotiated deals that will allow iTunes to offer songs free of copy
protection software from the three largest music labels.
The move has not
been announced yet, but CNET is quoting two well placed sources close to the
negotiations. However to get the deal, Apple has had to budge on its 'one
price fits all' policy.
It looks like song prices will be broken down into
three categories; older songs, midline songs, newer songs that aren't big hits,
and current hits. Apple has offered songs free of digital rights management
protections from EMI for more than a year.
The price of catalog music is
falling to 79 cents per song. The labels will get an opportunity to price some
hit songs for more than 99 cents but eventually those songs will drop to 79
cents.
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