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Responding to overwhelming public demand, Apple and EMI announced at an event in London plans to release a number of EMI catalogue titles without the DRM software which dictates what can and cannot been done with downloaded music. The move has implications for the film industry as producers weigh up how to release their films online.
EMI is taking software locks off some of its digital music songs sold via download sites.
The "premium" versions of EMI tracks will lack the digital locks common to songs available via many online sites.
The move is significant because most download sites
currently try to limit piracy by restricting what people can do with
music they buy.
Apple's iTunes store will start selling the EMI tracks in the "premium" format in May.
Track changes
EMI said every song in its catalogue will be available
in the "premium" format. It said the tracks without locks will cost
more and be of higher quality than those it offers now.
Popular EMI artists include Lily Allen, Joss Stone, Robbie Williams, Coldplay and Corinne Bailey Rae.
The higher price will apply only to single tracks that
customers download. On iTunes EMI tracks free of digital rights
management (DRM) software will cost $1.29 (99p).
Itunes users will be able to upgrade previously
purchased EMI songs and albums for 30 cents (15p) a track. Fans will be
able to buy "premium" tracks that are twice the sound quality of
currently available EMI tracks.
"Consumers tell us they would be prepared to pay a
higher price for a piece of music they can play on any player," said
EMI boss Eric Nicoli.
By contrast albums free of DRM and those with it will be the same price.
EMI unveiled the "premium" content at a hastily arranged press conference held in London.
Apple boss Steve Jobs shared the platform with Mr Nicoli
and said: "This is the next big step forward in the digital music
revolution - the movement to completely interoperable DRM-free music."
He added: "The right thing to do is to tear down walls
that precluded interoperability by going DRM-free and that starts here
today."
Other record companies would soon follow EMI's lead, predicted Mr Jobs.
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