iTunes gets more DRM-free songs, flexible pricing

Confirming rumors from earlier this week, Apple announced today that more songs would be available at the iTunes Store free of Digital Rights Management (DRM) software, and that songs would be sold at different prices.

Apple has signed deals with Sony BMG, Universal, and Warner Music (in addition to EMI, which started offering DRM-free music last year) to sell music without the Fairplay software which limits how many computers—and more importantly, which digital music players—songs purchased through iTunes may be used. Users will now be free to copy their music how they please, and play it on any device which supports the AAC format. Apple has faced repeated criticism (and lawsuits) about the tight relationship between the iPod and iTunes.