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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.

14 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.
    1. Re:True, however ... by lexarius · · Score: 5, Informative

      iTunes happily offers non-DRM songs (with higher bitrate, for 30 cents extra). Problem: Labels don't want to. The only problem that record companies have with iTunes is that Apple doesn't let them set prices however they like. Apple is, as usual, a bit of a control freak here, but I think we've seen that record companies shouldn't be trusted with things like setting prices on music.

    2. Re:True, however ... by heelrod · · Score: 5, Funny

      But (tm), can (tm) we (tm) really (tm) do (tm) anything (tm) without (tm) Lawyers (tm) ? (tm)

    3. Re:True, however ... by RDW · · Score: 5, Informative

      '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.'

      Sounds good! And I just spotted an album I want at about half the UK CD/iTunes price. But then I clicked on the T&C and got:

      '5. Territorial Restrictions

      As required by our Digital Content providers, Digital Content will, unless otherwise designated, be available only to customers located in the United States.'

      Cheers. If I'm lucky it'll soon be available on this side of the pond at the usual 1 USD = 1 GBP exchange rate for 'digital content'...

    4. Re:True, however ... by CastrTroy · · Score: 5, Informative

      There's already been DRM free music for quite a while. People like to complain that the music isn't available online without DRM, but aren't willing to vote with their wallet, and stop buying music from bands and labels that require DRM to download songs. Currently I get all my music from eMusic. It doesn't have everything I want, but it does have a lot of good music. I'd rather have music for about $3-$5 an album, than have to put up with DRM'd files, or paying $15 for a single album on CD.

      --

      Anthropic principle: We see the universe the way it is because if it were different we would not be here to see it.
    5. Re:True, however ... by Tumbleweed · · Score: 5, Funny

      Cheers. If I'm lucky it'll soon be available on this side of the pond at the usual 1 USD = 1 GBP exchange rate for 'digital content'...

      Shipping costs, ya know. :)

  2. " Zunes" by evwah · · Score: 5, Funny

    " Zunes"

    don't be so sure... someone would had to have actually BOUGHT one of these in order to make sure they can play mp3s.

    1. Re:" Zunes" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      You must have forgotten about Microsoft's Zune-only technology, PlaysForSureReallyWeAreTotallyNotKiddingThisTime (tm).

  3. eMusic by poached · · Score: 5, Informative

    eMusic has been around and has been DRM free. Their selection is probably larger than Amazon's at this point. Best part is when I import the mp3s into iTunes the songs are properly recognized and the album covers are downloaded accordingly. It looks to me that some tests at least goes on there to make sure that it is compatible with iTunes.

    1. Re:eMusic by Basilius · · Score: 5, Informative

      Also, the new eMusic Remote downloading software works on Linux. Linux support had been a bit problematical before.

  4. 256k mp3s by CottonThePirate · · Score: 5, Informative

    Something that no one has mentioned so far is that these mp3s are 256k bitrate (at least the few I checked). I'm not an audiophile with tubes or anything, but I do think that straight mp3 at 128 sounds off. I for one welcome our new DRM-free music overlords.

  5. Re: Useful, Only If You're A Resident Of the U.S.A by ScottAS · · Score: 5, Interesting

    EldavoJohn I agree with your comment regarding the fact that un-signed musicians are now able to advertise their content via Amazon.Com's Online Store however there are also many other vectors which are able to be used to promote un-signed artists, of which include Jamendo.Com; although the file format used is primarily an OGG file format, a format which multiple multimedia applications, of which include Microsoft Windows Media Player 11 and Apple iTunes are unable to process without the installation of an additional codec. Amazon.Com has become a serious consideration however it's a pity that that Online Store is only available to residents of the United States Of America, and, being a resident of the United Kingdom, I'm unable to use it. Until the Online Store is available in the United Kingdom, I will continue to perouse Jamendo.Com. http://www.jamendo.com/ - Jamendo.Com - Open Your Ears

  6. Re:Haha - Bill Gates and the Rolling Stones by Dogtanian · · Score: 5, Funny

    Bill Gates paid $12 Million for the right to use "Start Me Up" to use with Windows.

    From the "Top 100 Best Sellers", I see that Linux users can get it for 89 cents. Nice one :-)

    But seriously, Bill Gates didn't pay $12 Million for "Start Me Up". He paid 89 cents like everyone else.

    What he paid $11,999,999.11 for was the right to leave out the line "You make a grown man cry".
    --
    "Slashdot - News and Chat Sites Deviant". (Click "homepage" link above for details).
  7. Re:This works outside the US by Snowgen · · Score: 5, Funny

    Result? It works. Raw MP3 downloads. Legal.

    Provided that your definition of legal means "obtained in violation of the terms of service and by providing fraudulent information to bypass the compliance checks."