When EMI announced its plans to offer its music catalog without DRM, Apple was at their side to say that iTunes would offer a DRM-free version of the EMI catalog on iTunes. With only four days left in the month, DRM-free music is still nowhere to be found on iTunes. French site MacBidouille reports that a final agreement between Apple and EMI was only signed last week and that the two companies are now busy setting up the music catalog for go-live. Rather than a gradual rollout, it appears that the two companies are pushing to offer as much as possible of the catalog (still no Beatles though) on the day of release.
EMI songs will be offered in a higher 256Kpbs AAC format without Apple’s FairPlay DRM scheme for US$1.29 (€1.29 / £0.99) as well as at the current US$0.99 price (at 128Kbs and with DRM).
Perhaps we will see the new EMI DRM-free catalog on Tuesday when Apple does its regular update.
Note: The ‘More information’ link will take you to a French article.