DRM-Free Music On iTunes: Awesome?

In one of the best most confusing moves for the consumer the music industry has ever done, EMI in conjunction with Apple has announced today that they will be releasing DRM-Free music on iTunes for $0.30 more. This most certainly comes as a complete surprise to most of us and is definitely a welcome step in the right direction for moving towards a completely DRM-free world.

However, one has to ask: Why would they make such a seemingly selfless move like this? They obvious answer seems to be that they would make more money, seeing as how they are charging a quarter and a nickel more per DRM-free song. But I have a few issues with this.

One of which is that the DRM-free songs are still in the AAC format. Most devices play primarily MP3 and OGG Vorbis. Correct me if I'm wrong, but that means only iPods can play these songs still. So all of those folks out there sporting their iRiver, Zune, Creative, and Sandisk players won't be able to even take advantage of these DRM-free songs. Hmmm, that stinks.

Another issue I have is that they are charging more for the DRM-free songs. Media is media, it's the same song, is it not? DVD Music, SACDs and CDs all cost the exact same, why must we now pay MORE for DRM-free, slightly higher quality music?

And lastly is the oh-so-interesting fact that TV shows and movies are not DRM-free as well. If Mr. Jobs and EMI truly supported this DRM-free movement, then why wouldn't Jobs push for DRM-free Disney movies (and all of the subsidiary companies therein, e.g. Pixar, ABC, Touchstone, Miramax, etc). Keep in mind that Jobs owns a considerable amount of shares in The Walt Disney Company and is one of the senior members on the Board Of Directors.

All in all, I think this is most certainly a move in the right direction, but at the moment, it seems that the rights of the consumer are skewed in the eyes of the big wigs in charge of the record labels. Here's hoping for a DRM-free world that is that much closer to a reality!

Offical Annoucement Here