30 cents, and its FREE!

When Jobs shocked the public and Record Industry months ago with his letter “Thoughts on Music” no one knew what would happen. The labels felt immediate pressure to release music, DRM free, but no one thought it would happen this early in the game. People began to speculate who would be the first to “let go”- but no one had answers. Some thought it would be Universal; some Sony- who would dare take the first step? Well Ladies and Gentlemen, Emi is making big news and big history in taking those first steps to make their catalogue available DRM free at iTunes in May. Jobs announced this groundbreaking deal early this week at London-based EMI Group--one of the four large conglomerates of the recording industry.Thus history has been made and starting in May, Apple's iTunes store will sell almost all of EMI's music online without copy protection - if customers are willing to pay a 30 percent premium. This DRM free music will allow listeners that have digital players other than Apple's iPod will be able to play EMI tracks they download from iTunes - without going through the lengthy process of converting into their library.It is hard to understand just how grand of a deal this really is – and what it means for the future of the record business. It has been an all out war since the inset of technological advances and behold now the labels are finally realizing they are forced to give in. However, I truly wonder why EMI and Jobs raised the price – do they really think that that is the answer. Will that allow them to sell more CDs? Who knows – once again we will just have to see. At least this is an advance to help the customers. The result of such tight restrictions and copyright protection “has been a mishmash of incompatible copy protection schemes, online music services and players - and a customer base that's increasingly disenchanted”. The price increase is what we will have to watch. That seems a little disenchanting itself- yet only fair; the record labels probably are scared and need a little monetary reassurance.