Sources: Apple, music labels talk DRM-free songs

news.cnet.com - 11/19/2008

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A year after iTunes began offering music without copy protection software from EMI, Apple is in discussions with the other three top recording companies about acquiring DRM-free songs, according to two music industry sources. The talks are still preliminary and no deals have been ...

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MacBlogz - One Stop Apple News: Apple In Talks With Music Labels for DRM-Free Music

AppleInsider: Apple in talks to offer DRM-free MP3 tracks via iTunes

MacDailyNews: Apple and music labels in discussions to sell DRM-free songs, say sources

Ars Technica - Infinite Loop: Rumor: Apple close to signing major labels to iTunes Plus

Cult of Mac: Report: Apple, Studios In Talks Over Expanding DRM-Free iTunes

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Apple In Talks With Music Labels for DRM-Free Music
MacBlogz - One Stop Apple News — ... Cnet’s Greg Sandoval claims to have heard from music industry sources that Apple is involved in discussions about bringing DRM-free music to iTunes, or “open” MP3s. ...

Apple in talks to offer DRM-free MP3 tracks via iTunes
AppleInsider — ... Published: 03:00 PM EST Apple is in talks with three of the "big four" record labels about offering music tracks through iTunes that would be made available in MP3 format without copy protection measures, a move that could further distance the digital download service from its rivals. Citing "two music industry sources," CNet News.com claims the talks with Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, and Sony BMG are still in the preliminary stages with nothing finalized, though one label is reportedly leaning towards an agreement. EMI, the other member of the "big four," ...

Apple and music labels in discussions to sell DRM-free songs, say sources
MacDailyNews — ... Greg Sandoval reports for CNET. "The talks are still preliminary and no deals have been finalized, but one source said one of the major labels is close to a final agreement. Rumors have been swirling on the Internet for a week that Sony would soon be offering music without the controversial digital rights management software. My sources could not confirm this," Sandoval reports. "Spokespeople for Apple and the major labels declined to comment," Sandoval reports. Full article here . [Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader "Ottawa Mark" for the heads up.] ...

Rumor: Apple close to signing major labels to iTunes Plus
Ars Technica - Infinite Loop — [image] News is circulating today that Apple has reportedly been in and out of talks for the last several months with at least three music labels in hopes that they can soon add their libraries to their DRM-free iTunes Plus lineup. According to CNet , most of the negotiations are sill in early stages, but a deal with one major label is close to being done. The site points to an ...

Report: Apple, Studios In Talks Over Expanding DRM-Free iTunes
Cult of Mac —

Apple in Negotiations to Expand iTunes Plus Library
Mac|Life all RSS Feed — itunesplus According to two music industry sources , Apple is in discussions with three top recording companies about having them follow EMI's example and offerings DRM-free songs. The talks are still in the early phases and no deals have been finalized, but it has been said that one of the record companies is close to finalizing a deal. Sony, we are looking in your direction. The interwebs have been swirling with rumors that Sony will begin to offer music without the digital rights management software, but they are still just rumors. Last year Steve Jobs wrote an open letter ...

The Macalope Weekly: Leopards and monopolies and DRM! Oh, my!
Macworld — ... case that the company with the 7 percent market share is a monopolist. Yes, there’s more to the equation than that, but when Apple’s attorney can basically make the case to the judge through nothing more than a series of eye rolls, nasal snorts, guffaws and dismissive exhalations of air, this outcome’s not surprising. DRM Is Dead! Long Live DRM! Good news may be on the horizon, music lovers! iTunes is increasingly the last digital stronghold for copy-protected music and it looks like Apple may be in negotiations with the major recording ...

Rumor: iTunes music to go DRM-free today
The Apple Core — ... notes: The site doesn’t point to specific sources but is careful to note that Apple is moving cautiously on the matter following difficult negotiations that allegedly had the labels hoping to negotiate what EMI had done for the launch of iTunes Plus in 2007, when it successfully negotiated prices higher before ultimately agreeing to reduce the price to Apple’s standard 99 cents. Last month CNet News.com noted that Apple was in preliminary talks with Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, and Sony BMG about acquiring DRM-free songs, according to two music industry ...