EMI Group PLC, (LON: EMI) the world's third-largest music company by sales, announced today that it will sell songs without the digital rights management software or DRM. Steve Jobs was on hand to make the announcement, which is a major reversal of the music industry's longstanding anti-piracy strategy.
EMI's decision comes after months of debate over DRM and numerous discussions aimed at encouraging the music industry to change its approach to licensing music for sale online. In February, Mr. Jobs posted an essay
on the Apple website titled "Thoughts on Music" where he makes the point that he would open the digital rights management system on iTunes to allow other digital devices to play iTunes music and to allow other music store media to play on the iPod in a "heartbeat."
EMI's decision could be a good move for Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) as it would certainly lessen political pressure by several European countries that want to see Apple make its digital music products and the iPod, work with songs and hardware from other companies.
One caveat: Still no word on sales of Beatles tunes.
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