Devoted to hardware, software, IT issues, and information technology management

 

It appears that the record labels are slowly beginning to realize that they can not have DRMed music and complete control over the online music market at the same time. The labels have insisted that nearly all music sold online contain DRM due to fears over piracy and file-sharing. That insistence ultimately left the labels reliant on other companies to come up with DRM solutions capable of pleasing both consumers and the music industry. Yahoo Music is selling the latest single from piano-playing songstress Norah Jones, along with a pair of tracks from Christian rockers Reliant K, in the MP3 format which is priced at 99¢. The three songs mark another timid step from the music industry away from DRM-encumbered formats that limit users to the iPod, PlaysForSure, or Zune music ecosystems. This marks at least the third time Yahoo has sold MP3s from a major label. In September, Yahoo offered Jesse McCartney's album Right Where You Want for $9.99 in the MP3 format, with WMA as an option. Earlier in the year, Yahoo sold a non-DRMed single by singer-actress Jessica Simpson for 99¢.

 

Testing DRM-free waters: EMI selling a few MP3s through Yahoo Music