Amazon to launch digital music store

[Paddy]

http://apnews.excite.com/article/20070516/D8P5ILK80.html
http://playlistmag.com/news/2007/05/16/amazon/index.php

"Online retailer Amazon.com on Wednesday said it plans to launch a digital music store later this year featuring songs without copy protection restrictions.
The store will feature millions of songs from 12,000 labels able to be played on a range of devices including iPods, Microsoft's Zune players and personal computers. Files will be offered in the standard MP3 format."

No cost info or launch date so far...

Wonder how Apple and the remaining RIAA members who oppose DRM-free music downloads will respond?

Oh...and will it be available at Amazon Canada??? (A pale imitation of Amazon south of the border, I'm afraid, in that all they sell is books, music and videos - not the everything-but-the-kitchen-sink smorgasbord I'd become used to... )

[krissel]

Apple's response will depend on the price and the quality of the files Amazon will be offering. Apple has DRM free stuff for 30 cents more and a higher quality sound. Then again, it's the profit margin on the iPod that really matters, this may actually encourage more people to buy an iPod since they can get music easily that isn't tied to iTunes.