In what we consider a major announcement, EMI and Apple today announced that EMI music will be available DRM-free on iTunes beginning in May.

The DRM-free EMI tracks will be available at twice the bitrate (audio quality) of standard iTunes tracks for $1.29 each. Complete albums will also be DRM-free and higher quality at no additional charge. Additionally, iTunes users can upgrade existing tracks to DRM-free tracks for $0.30. All EMI music videos will be DRM-free at current prices.

Our disdain for DRM runs deep. It limits how you can use the music you purchase and affects your buying decisions. We believe that by removing DRM and doubling audio quality, Apple and EMI will increase online music purchases. iTunes users who also use other devices such as Sonos and Squeezebox will now be able to play DRM-free EMI tracks on all their devices.

Based on all the strong words in favor of DRM from the other big record labels, it's hard to predict if they will follow suit. When DRM-free EMI iTunes songs are made available in May, let your $$ do the talking and show EMI and Apple that their decision is a good one.

EMI Press Release