Yesterday, Apple sent out short notices to their iTunes partners who provide the music content to the iTunes store. The notices let partners know that they would soon be able to offer DRM-free music and DRM-free music videos to customers through iTunes: "Many of you have reached out to iTunes to find out how you can make your songs available higher quality and DRM-free. Starting next month, iTunes will begin offering higher-quality, DRM-free music and DRM-free music videos to all customers." The new unrestricted format appears to be open to any publisher who is interested. Apple and EMI first announced earlier this month that they would be distributing DRM-free EMI songs via iTunes for $1.29/song with higher quality settings. The first of these new songs are expected in May.

Ed.note: I still buy CDs. Better quality, built-in back up, universally readable :-)