October 16, 2007 8:19 AM PDT

Apple drops price of DRM-free iTunes

This report was updated midday to reflect that Apple has confirmed the DRM-free iTunes price drop.

Apple has dropped the price of its iTunes Plus songs that have no digital rights management (DRM) software protection and allow owners to move song files freely from one device to another.

The 256kbps DRM-free song files were originally priced at $1.29 per song with a lower per-song average price for buying an entire album. iTunes now seems to be offering the same files for 99 cents per song, the same price it charges for its usual 128kbps DRM versions.

"iTunes Plus has been incredibly popular with our customers, and now we're making it available at an even more affordable price," Tom Neumayr, senior manager for iPods, Apple TV and iTunes, said in a statement. "We're adding over 2 million tracks from key independent labels, in addition to EMI's digital catalog, and look forward to even more labels and artists making their music available on iTunes Plus."

The change closely follows Amazon.com's launch of its own digital-music store.

As of September 25, Amazon.com began offering 256kbps DRM-free MP3s for between 89 cents and 99 cents each, depending on the song.

While Apple has made no formal comment as to why it's decided to reduce its DRM-free iTunes prices, Amazon's new music store could be the reason.

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Add a Comment (Log in or register) 12 comments (Page 1 of 1)
Thanks Amazon.com!
by john55440 October 16, 2007 8:52 AM PDT
Apple's specialty is copying others, and pretending that it's innovation.
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Thx Amazon & Zune Store
by close5828 October 16, 2007 9:09 AM PDT
See guys....competition can be a GOOD thing!
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Not Entirely True!
by Mr Jordan October 16, 2007 9:33 AM PDT
That?s a big negative there Huston. Most of the songs avail in DRM free format by your big name artists are still listed as 1.29. Ex: Commons Be Album has 1-2 tracks that are DRM free @ 1.29 while DJ Tiesto?s Just Be DRM free song has been reduced to the aforementioned 99c price.
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Everyone is a copycat
by SpiritWater October 16, 2007 9:56 AM PDT
You cannot be totally serious. Everyone in industry copies bits and pieces for others. Microsoft certainly copied a bunch from Apple and likewise Apple from Microsoft. Break the Wedge! www.breakthewedge.com
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Apple did not make announcement?
by digiprod October 16, 2007 10:24 AM PDT
Probably because this is not true. The iTunes store is STILL showing $1.29 pricing for iTunes Plus. Only a VERY select few tracks were reduced. It might pay to check your facts first NEWS.com!
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Step in the right direction but....
by imacpwr October 16, 2007 11:02 AM PDT
still way too expensive for something that only consists of 0's and 1's and can't actually be held with human hands.. Now cut the price in half (at the absolute minimum) and maybe I might "think" about buying music online...
Reply to this comment
Just listen to the 1s and zeros
by digiprod October 16, 2007 12:03 PM PDT
I think it may sound like a whirring or a digital blip sound. Hold that in your hand!
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Dear Apple
by QuetzalcoatlUSA October 16, 2007 1:50 PM PDT
I "upgraded" my DRM-full iTunes in May (when you announced it) to DRM-less iTunes, which cost me about $15. Now you've dropped the price. Unfortunately for you, I only had about four months to look cool with my new DRM-less music before you let everyone in with your 30 cent/per song price drop. If I had known you would drop the price to 99 cents four months after this announcement, I would not have become an early adopter. I'm contacting my lawyer.
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