PC World > Feature

NZ price set for DRM-free tracks on iTunes

New Zealand iTunes customers are to be charged $2.49 per track for DRM-free music.

By Annabel McAleer / Monday, May 14 2007

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The New Zealand iTunes Store will charge $2.49 (inc GST) per track for DRM-free music, Apple confirmed today.

Apple and EMI announced last month that EMI will make its catalogue available for sale online without digital rights management (DRM) technology. The DRM-free tracks will also be higher quality (256kbps) than the music currently sold on iTunes (128kbps).

Music with Apple’s copy protection technology embedded will continue to be available at the regular iTunes price of $1.79.

In iTunes stores overseas, EMI’s DRM-free music is to be priced at US$1.29, €1.29 or £0.99 for each song, compared to the current price of US$0.99, €0.99 or £0.79.

This equates to a US$0.30 (30%) premium for US customers, a €0.30 (30%) premium for European customers, and a 20p (25%) premium for UK customers.

New Zealanders will face a $0.70 (39%) premium for DRM-free tracks.

The release date for premium content on iTunes is yet to be confirmed.

Apple is currently in talks with other major labels about digital distribution rights. Apple CEO Steve Jobs has said he expects to offer half the iTunes catalogue in DRM-free format by the end of 2007.

New Zealand-based digital music site Digirama also plans to add EMI's DRM-free content to its catalogue. Managing director Shaun Davis says he hasn't finalised the wholesale track price with EMI yet, but hopes to offer DRM-free tracks at Digirama's current price of $1.75.