In an interesting move which may have further industry implications, EMI is offering its entire digital music catalog available without restrictions (DRM). These DRM free songs will be at twice the sound quality as existing downloads for a little higher of a price.
EMI tested out DRM free music with the sales of Norah Jones’ Thinking About You. It entered the US Billboard Hot 100 at no. 82 which was Jones’ first appearance on the charts since her release of “Don’t Know Why“.
It’s probably hard to guess whether there was more or less piracy given the MP3 was sold without any restrictions but it seems Jones’ sales were positive enough to push EMI to get rid restrictions for all of its music.
Let’s hope publishers of books follow the lead and start releasing DRM free ebooks. In support of EMI’s move, I am off to order an EMI album, probably Norah Jones. Ned loves her.
Loading ...
Open Threads at Dear Author. Want to know what new releases are out this month and what readers are excited about reading? Check out the threads below. 
We don’t like to censor comments nor do we endorse the comments of any poster. We do reserve the right to moderate comments but most of the time will not, believing, as Justice Brandeis did, that the greater good is in “more speech, not enforced silence.”
