The songs Universal is offering for a limited time without DRM enabling will play on Apple's market-leading iPods, but the DRM-free music will not be offered on iTunes, a decision Universal sayswill allow for easier sales comparisons. The following month,Apple announced that iTuneswould be the first online music store tosell EMI'snew downloads, described as premium-quality tracks.

Tunes in the popular MP3 format that will be offeredduring the test run will includethose from arange of artists, such asSting,Diana Krall, Mika, Johnny Cash, 50 Cent, Shania Twain and Prince.ĭRM technology is backed by the music industry in its fight against online piracy, but it frustrates a lot of consumers by limiting the type of mobile devices that can play their copied music.Ĭopy-protected songs sold through iTunes generally won't play on devices other than the iPod - although users are finding ways around the restrictions -and iPods won't play DRM-enabled songs bought at rival online music stores.ĮMI Group began offering most its catalogue,minus music by the Beatles, without DRM restrictions in April. 21 until the end of January without the protection known as DRM (digital rights management). The record giant said Friday it will make thousands of tracks availablefrom Aug. Universal Music Group is temporarily selling music over the internet free of technology that often prevents people fromtransferring files to a full range ofdevices.

Drm free songs