Sony BMG to Offer DRM-Free Music on Apple's iTunes?

man, the big 4 are so stupid ... this should have happened a long time ago.

man, the big 4 are so stupid ... this should have happened a long time ago.

Well not necessarily (well yes, they are stupid but not in this case) because if they just give into iTunes with DRM-free material they would (as the post said) just be giving more power to the iTunes store and lose even more power in any negotiations

This is a music upgrade that will make a dent in the ol' wallet.

Geez, finally. The service has been out there for HOW long? I swear, the music industry has to be one of the most ridiculously bone-headed group of corporations ever.

man, the big 4 are so stupid ... this should have happened a long time ago.

Yes, this should have happened long ago. The Big Four clearly are stupid for having snubbed Apple, knowing that iTunes Store is still the MOST profitable and highest revenue-generating music store on the Internet.

iTunes Store is possibly the ONLY online music store that greatly encourages its customer-base to obtain and purchase music legally. The rest of the garbage sites (Napster, Limewire, and assorted junk) all they do is encourage piracy.

I guess Sony BMG learned the hard way... and finally they got a clue, and are NOW begging to go back to Apple and wanting to sell their DRM-free 256kbps hi-quality albums via the iTunes Store.

Regardless, I'm glad that Sony's albums will go 256 hi-quality now.... since Sony Classical and other Sony music labels have some of the best genre recordings in existence. EMI stuff is good too, but EMI selection is not as big.

This is a music upgrade that will make a dent in the ol' wallet.

Do we still have to pay for upgrades since they're all the same price now?

I'll be honest, I don't care whether it has DRM or not, I just want the higher quality.

Well not necessarily (well yes, they are stupid but not in this case) because if they just give into iTunes with DRM-free material they would (as the post said) just be giving more power to the iTunes store and lose even more power in any negotiations

No, your statement is wrong. The Big Four, at this moment, would not cede any further bargaining power to Apple if they are now to allow their DRM tracks to Apple. Fact is, The Big Four have already made their DRM tracks available to other venues such as Amazon.... so it's NOT like Apple iTunes will be some all-godly-powerful exclusive seller of their DRM tracks. Customers will have a choice to obtain DRM tracks from other sellers other than Apple.... be it Amazon, Walmart, or whomever.

Do we still have to pay for upgrades since they're all the same price now?

I'll be honest, I don't care whether it has DRM or not, I just want the higher quality.

The higher quality 256kbps tracks clearly sound a lot better.... they are sharper, crisp and sound a lot better if you have good audio hardware. Many of the 128-bit tracks sound muddy.

Sony BMG has done little of intelligence in the digital space, but I hope this is the beginning of a new age with them.

I own a ton of their music, and I will upgrade the day I can. (The same goes for the other labels.)

I hope all of them realize that they are losing a lot of potential money here by sticking with drm on itunes. (and gaining nothing by "protecting" their music.)

That's already available on Amazon.