thomas fitzgerald.net

Amazon has added a catalog of DRM free mp3’s from warner music to it’s music download service. This is important because it means virtually all the major record labels are now supplying DRM free music. Only Sony is still holding out although I suspect that will change soon. Of course, many are already calling this as bad news for Apple as it still only has DRM free tracks from EMI and independents. However, I wouldn’t rush to chicken little the situation just yet, as Apple generally likes to make a big splash with announcements like this, and it does have a rather large event planned in the near future that would be far more in keeping with Apple announcing a similar deal with Warner than just a press release. Given the recent comments of Warner’s boss Edgar Bronfman I would be very surprised if they weren’t going to launch on iTunes soon too.

However, it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that they have failed to secure a deal with Warner, in which case it is still good news for Apple customers in the long run because it puts increased pressure on Apple to a little less arrogant and more pragmatic in its dealings with the studios. I know many people see Apple as a champion of consumer rights in these issues, but being a champion means squat if they have no content at all. Competition is always good for everyone and having more than one major player in this space will allow the direction of the technology to be directed by the market rather than dictated to by one company, however well meaning.

Still, I would hedge my bets that you will hear an announcement about this at the Macworld keynote.

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