EMI takes locks off music tracks

[norderney]

Interesting news from bbc.co.uk/news:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6516189.stm

[amcluesent]

No DRM, 256kbit/sec AAC played via the SB3/Transporter may sound quite OK for pop-music.

http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2007/04/02itunes.html

[werock]

The EMI press release mentions 'CD Quality', and also goes on to say:

"EMI expects that consumers will be able to purchase higher quality DRM-free downloads from a variety of digital music stores within the coming weeks, with each retailer choosing whether to sell downloads in AAC, WMA, MP3 or other unprotected formats of their choice. Music fans will be able to purchase higher quality DRM-free digital music for personal use, and listen to it on a wide range of digital music players and music-enabled phones."

http://www.emigroup.com/Press/2007/press18.htm

[CardinalFang]

No DRM, 256kbit/sec AAC played via the SB3/Transporter may sound quite OK for pop-music.

256K AAC should sound more than OK for the vast majority of people, I doubt many consumers could tell the difference between that coding and lossless.

I buy the odd song now and then that's hard to get in stores, or where the album isn't worth the outlay because of filler tracks, and my daughters buy a lot of tracks off iTunes, so this really good news for me at least.

[Seineseeker]

It's only EMI for the moment. 99p a track is a bit expensive though, when you can buy plenty of CDs new and old still for 5-8 pounds.

[CardinalFang]

It's only EMI for the moment. 99p a track is a bit expensive though, when you can buy plenty of CDs new and old still for 5-8 pounds.

That's true, but how often are there only one or two good tracks on many CDs released nowadays?

[LejfK]

There's another thread in the General Discussions forum asking for AAC support now that DRM-free tracks will be available from the ITunes store. I suggest interested folks post and show their support.

[DCtoDaylight]

Now does this mean EMI will stop putting their @#$%ing copy protection on CD's? It doesn't stop me from getting the full res data from the CD to my computer for Slimserver, but it does make it more painfull!

[werock]

7digital are starting to offer EMI tracks at 320kbps.

http://www.7digital.com/