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Amazon may offer DRM-free music from major labels

by Stephen Withers

Wednesday, 25 April 2007

Amazon seems set to open a mainstream online music store as early as next month, and aims to follow the new EMI/Apple model of offering tracks unencumbered with DRM.

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The company already sells music from a number of independent labels, but has reportedly approached the majors with a proposal to offer unprotected MP3 tracks from their catalogues.

EMI has already indicated a willingness to provide unprotected tracks in any format a retailer cares to sell, so it would be surprising if a EMI/Amazon deal wasn't imminent.

One card Amazon could play is going along with the labels' desire for variable prices (eg, selling new tracks at higher prices than older material), something Apple has so far opposed.

The absence of DRM makes it easier for people to use the same purchased music on their computers, players such as iPods and Zunes, and mobile phones.

The iTunes Store has a market share of around 80 percent, making it an attractive target for competitors, especially one that's done as well in online retail as Amazon.{moscomment}

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