Universal Music sells downloads DRM-free

Universal Music Group - the home for numerous artists including Amy Winehouse - is to sell downloads DRM-free

Universal Music Group is to sell its music online without copy-protection DRM, allowing downloaders to listen to music on any device and copy it freely.

Universal Music has said it will be selling music DRM-free through a number of existing music download sites - although not Apple's iTunes Store - until January at the least. DRM-free tracks will be playable on a wide range of MP3 players, including iPods. Universal Music has a huge roster of artists from Amy Winehouse and Stevie Wonder to 50 Cent and Bon Jovi,

Universal Music executives will be evaluating the impact on digital sales of selling tracks DRM-free, studying consumer demand and possible effects of online piracy. Not all of its catalogue will be immediately available in the trial period. Sites taking part in the Universal Music DRM-free trial includes Google , Wal-Mart and Amazon.com . Tracks are expected to sell for $0.99 each.

Possible online piracy

The move by Universal Music is a shift away from the standard music industry practice of using copy-protection technology for digital downloads to combat online piracy. It reflects an ongoing debate about whether copy-protection is counter-productive. Some argue it limits the take-up of digital downloading by restricting how consumers use tracks they have paid for.

Earlier this year, EMI Music became the first major music label to open up its catalogue for DRM-free track downloads, selling higher quality DRM-free tracks at a premium price on iTunes Store.

Latest in Entertainment
Glasgow Rangers' Nigerian forward Cyriel Dessers runs with the ball during a UEFA Europa League round of 16 first-leg football match in March 2025
Rangers vs Fenerbahce live stream: How to watch UEFA Europa League online
Tottenham Hotspur player Lucas Bergvall participates in the match at the AFAS Stadium for the UEFA Europa League
Tottenham vs AZ live stream: How to watch the Europa League online from anywhere
A close up of Captain America with Thor and Hulk in the background during the Assemble scene in Avengers: Endgame
'We will draw inspiration': Joe and Anthony Russo reveal which of Marvel's Secret Wars comic book series have influenced Avengers 5 and 6's plot
Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United celebrates after scoring their side's first goal during a Premier League match in March 2025
Man Utd vs Real Sociedad live stream: How to watch the Europa League game online
Indy the Dog sitting in front of the TV
South by Southwest has given me 4 new horror movies to look forward to, including one from a dog's perspective
Paul Rudd on the ground looking up at a unicorn, whose legs are visible
I've added 5 new movies and TV shows to my watchlist after they premiered at South by Southwest 2025
Latest in News
Project Moohan prototype at Samsung Galaxy Unpacked, an XR goggles headset on display in a show area
Samsung's Android XR headset could avoid the Apple Vision Pro's biggest mistake, according to this leak
Rivian R1T
Big Rivian update delivers hands-off driving to rival Tesla Autopilot – and a new 'Rally' mode
Google Pixel 9 in Wintergreen showing back camera bar
The Google Pixel 10 could get a big camera boost if this new leak is legit
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, close up on the dual camera system, against a marbled background
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is being tipped to come with a sweet Google Gemini deal
Diego Luna looks questioningly at the back of someone's head as Cassian Andor in the show Andor
Disney+ is making Andor free to stream on YouTube, and now you have no excuse not to watch the best Star Wars show
Matt Murdock and Kirsten McDuffie standing in a court room in Daredevil: Born Again
Daredevil: Born Again episode 3 contains another Marvel reference to Spider-Man, but it's got nothing to do with Tom Holland's Peter Parker