Universal Music Group (UMG) plans to test selling non-DRM music through a number of outlets (basically everyone except iTunes). This move follows EMI who made their entire catalog DRM-free, but at a not so great bitrate. Story Here: UMG’S SOUND CHECK Universal Music Group has been “one of the fiercest guardians of its artists’ copyrights.” Granted, this is but test marketing, but lets hope it paves the way for more.
I, for one, am tired of buying used CDs, ripping them, and stacking them in the closet until the next format wars. If UMG is serious, then come up with some sort of lifetime license (which is what the CD is), that will allow me to download as an mp3 today, and come back and download the same album in 5 years in whatevery format is king then for free (and no, it won’t be in ogg vorbis).
