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Amazon DRM-Free Music Store Goes Beta

Posted by kdawson on from the 2-million-songs-from-20-thousand-labels dept.

LowSNR writes "Amazon this morning moved their DRM-free music store into open beta. According to the release, 'Since all our digital music downloads are DRM-free, you can play them on anything that plays mp3s including PCs, Macs(tm), iPods(tm), Zunes(tm), Zens(tm), iPhones(tm), RAZRs(tm), and BlackBerrys. Plus, our Amazon MP3 Downloader application makes it easy to add your downloads to iTunes(tm) and Windows Media Player(tm), so you can sync up your devices or burn your music to CD hassle-free.' Not to mention Linux." Of course, without DRM few of the major labels play with them.

3 of 349 comments (clear)

  1. True, however ... by eldavojohn · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Of course, without DRM few of the major labels play with them. That may be true but why not view this as a way to stick it to iTunes and other music services? Everyone on this site has been complaining about wanting an alternative way to get DRM free music so they can stop paying money to a broken, defective by design system known as DRM. Now put your money where your mouth is and rid yourself of iTunes. The music selection may not be as great but if everyone moves, you can make a difference. Not to mention this is probably the best thing to happen to unsigned artists looking to make some quick easy cash even though it may not be much.
    --
    My work here is dung.
  2. Decent Selection by Scootin159 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Maybe I'm not 'mainstream' in what I listen to, but I just checked, and the first 6 albums I could think of were all available there. I really hope this will take off, and then the 'major' music labels will soon feel the threat if they don't offer DRM-free.

  3. This works outside the US by Gossi · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Yep, it says US only, but I'm in the UK and I just purchased a song. When you are asked to confirm your billing address, put in a dummy US address. I used this:

    "
    1 Infinite Loop
    New York
    Cupertino, CA 95014
    "

    (Apple's US headquarters address - it's valid).

    When asked for your phone number, put in your full international dialing number.

    Result? It works. Raw MP3 downloads. Legal. I'm using a Mac, and it works fine with Firefox, Safari and with my iPod and on iTunes.