DISQUS

last100: Universal to sell DRM-free music with Google’s help

  • Advice Network · 2 years ago
    "There DRM-free songs from the Universal catalog will cost 99 cents, 30 cents less than what the iTMS sells DRM-free music from the EMI label. Together Universal and EMI are two of the top four record labels in the world."

    Is that a typo? How is $0.99 $0.30 less than $0.99?
  • Vo Beatdown · 2 years ago
    Advice Network, iTunes DRM free songs cost $1.32. The ones >with
  • RPenn · 2 years ago
    Universal also announced that it would be selling DRM-free music downloads through both Wal-Mart and Best Buy websites.
  • Josh · 2 years ago
    Advice: The typo is in the use of the word "There" (rather than their). DRM Free tracks on iTunes are $1.29 each. Less $0.30 = $0.99.
  • Gil Janus · 2 years ago
    From the gbox.com website:

    Hey, you need to be on a Windows machine and use Internet Explorer to play with gBox.
    We are working hard to support FireFox users and the Mac, but it will take some time. Big apologies for the inconvenience.

    So much for selling to Apple computer using folks. Also, I don't use Firefox, I use Safari.
  • Morgan · 2 years ago
    I realize this is supposed to be non-DRM but the last place I'd buy anything digital at this point is Google after the video fiasco. The only DRMed movie I have that still works is Zoolander that I got free from AOL last year. And Google couldn't come up with a solution beyond a $2 with strings attached settlement. Bogus.
  • Ed · 2 years ago
    This may work, but people won't just leave itunes because gbox sells songs 30 cents less. Plus, itunes has very high quality music, lets see how the gbox music sounds.
  • Pilonog · 2 years ago
    @Josh: "There" is not a typo. If you read the whole sentence, it says, There (gBox) songs will cost 99 cents, referring to the store as a place, not to the songs as a possession.
  • David Mackey · 2 years ago
    Hmmm...Not a big fan of name or logo. Off to a bad start in my book.
  • Richard Tallent · 2 years ago
    If the new DRM-free files are 128kbps MP3s, I think I'll pay the extra $0.30 for 256kbps AAC.

    And if Universal is so hell-bent on finding lots of providers to distribute this new service, why not make iTunes one of those venues? For those of us with Macs, iPods, and/or iPhones, the integration is convenient.
  • Erkko · 2 years ago
    This is a great move from Google. They are just creating an opportunity to have the exact same model with Apple for iTunes, and at the same time getting profits also from Universal's content sales. The catalog differences of gBox and iTunes even match that plan well.
  • C.A.Sizemore · 2 years ago
    That is not a music store that is a PIA. I hope they relaunch with a better store front then gBox.com. I am really hoping Universal/Google make a good run at this and it needs a Podcatching client so I can fire iTunes and delete it.
  • Steve K. Gets Google Ads Free · 2 years ago
    Yea I agree I hate Itunes and won't use it. As for the music sales, the music companies should be happy with whatever they get, talk about gouging consumers.
  • john · 1 year ago
    I hate Itunes.. and i think the music industry makes enough as it is.
  • Jake · 1 year ago
    Nice article.. I guees we will see what happens in a few months!!
  • Dan · 1 year ago
    Nice article.... I also hate I tunes. And I agree that music companies should be happy with whatever they get...
  • Jones · 1 year ago
    I hate Itunes.. and i think the music industry makes enough as it is.
  • enhancement · 2 months ago
    The catalog differences of gBox and iTunes even match that plan well.