HMV Spins DRM-Free Tunes July 02, 2007
Read more Digital Audio , Gizmodo UK , MP3 , Music , Online , iPod
What do you do when profits plummet from traditional music sales? Just ask HMV.
The High St. music giant recently suffered a massive pre-tax profits plunge of 73%, thanks largely crappy CD sales and more people turning to downloads. Therefore, from September, HMV will start flogging DRM-free music. HMV will offer EMI’s DRM-free catalogue – just like Apple and 7Digital.
The good news is that the tracks will be available at the higher 328Kbps bit-rate – higher than Apple’s 256kbps DRM-free downloads – and prices will be cheaper too, starting at 79p per track versus 99p at iTunes.
Everything will be dragged under the hmv.co.uk Web site, to make it easier for consumers to find what they need. HMV already does music downloads – the copyrighted ones – with partner MusicNet. The company is aiming [hoping, praying] for 20% of its sales to come from online operations by 2010.-Martin Lynch
Editor and Contributor | Martin Lynch
Contributor | Tamlin Magee
Comments
That's 99p at the iTunes Store.
Yup its $1.29 ~ £0.99p
HMV, I really couldn't give a damn if it floats or sinks. It's an unlovable corporation, I haven't bought music from them in years. Sadly all 105 "Fopp" shops have just gone into receivership. I always bought my highstreet music from them, usually more than I should have. But they had a generous open return policy for albums you didn't like. The quality of albums these days often meant alot got returned, but the money always went straight back to finding better albums at Fopp. I spent a fortune with them, but happily. Now I'm glad digital will kill the album, as often only one or two tracks were worth keeping. Using online sellers means I can be fairly certain I'll like a track before I buy, so I can spend under a pound, rather than over £10 for one decent track! Hopefully it will also mean the break up of the huge music companies like BMG and UMG, who nobody likes. Through itunes and blogs, I've found music that HMV would NEVER stock. I've never bought so much music since I got broadband.