AfterDawn: News

Rolling Stones DRM free MP3s now available

7digital, a London based music download service, is going to be the first company to deliver EMI's Rolling Stones catalog without DRM.

The 24 albums are delivered at the high-quality 320 kbps rate, and for the next four weeks will exclusively retail at 7digital's website at 5.49 pounds each ($10.88). After the promotion expires, the albums will cost 7.99 pounds ($15.83) to download.



"To be the first and only music download service to make high quality downloads of the Rolling Stones' tracks available is a phenomenal coup for us," said 7digital's managing director Ben Drury."

Apple's iTunes already sells DRM free files from EMI's catalog, but uses the AAC format, which allows for higher compression at the same quality but doesn't have the nearly universal support that MP3 does.

Source: Reuters

Written by: Rich Fiscus @ 22 Aug 2007 7:21

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• 4 comments

• Unfocused

  It does seem that DRM free is gaining in popularity. Hopefully this isn't just a one time trend.

  22.8.2007 14:36 #1

• duckNrun

  yeah but at $10-$15 an 'album' I'm still not buying.
  
  DRM free IS the right direction but when the digital download costs as much as the physical disc something is not right. The production costs may be supplanted by server and hardware costs but I still don't believe they are equal in expenditures and instead just increase the profit that the industry keeps crying about losing.

  23.8.2007 11:48 #2

• Steve83

  I agree with dNr, but OTOH:
  
  It's possible that the industry will use this service's failure as an argument against DRM-free catalogs in the future. So I think it's worth looking into this offer while it's available, & taking some advantage of it while it lasts. Even if you only buy 1-2 albums (which shouldn't break your piggybank), you'll help send a message, and get a reasonble deal on some great music at the same time.

  24.8.2007 10:14 #3

• borhan9

  It is good to see that drm free is getting a lot of notice now and it is needed.

  30.8.2007 04:32 #4