iTunes drops DRM, adds variable pricing

Jake Widman
Wednesday, 08 April 2009 01:33

Business IT - Technology

As expected , Tuesday marked the end of digital rights management restrictions on music bought from the iTunes Store, as well as the advent of variable pricing.

All songs on iTunes are now available in unrestricted 256kbps AAC format, similar in quality to the offerings from other digital download stores such as Amazon and Rhapsody (depending on how you feel about AAC vs. MP3). A button on the store's home page announces the change and takes customers to a page where they can view all their restricted purchases and upgrade them for US$0.30 per song. While customers already had the ability to upgrade their purchases all at once, the ability to do so song-by-song is a welcome option.

The storefront also introduces customers to the new pricing, with buttons for "Rock for 69¢" and "Classic R&B for 69¢." The former highlights songs from artists ranging from Elvis Presley to Korn, while the latter collects songs from such artists as The Isley Brothers, Sly and the Family Stone, Bill Withers...and George Michael?

And a look at the Top Songs shows the kind of music that will cost more than the previous 99-cent standard: the latest hits from the Black Eyed Peas, Lady GaGa, and FloRida top the list, all costing $1.29 each. Kid Cudl and Kanye West are still 0.99, though, making one wonder if iTunes pricing will be the new arena in which pop rappers battle for bragging rights.