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# Slow March To DRM Free Music Becomes A Sprint
- URL: https://www.hypebot.com/slow-march-to-d/
- Published: 2007-11-30T04:22:38.000Z
- Updated: 2007-11-30T04:22:38.000Z
- Description: The slow march towards universal DRM free music appears about to become a sprint to the finish line. Recent developments pushing Sony BMG, WMG and other holdouts to reconsider their. Continue reading [https://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2007/11/slow-march-to-d.html]
- Author: Bruce Houghton
- Tags: Uncategorized, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-01-21 11:06

The slow march towards universal DRM free music appears about to become a sprint to the finish line. Recent developments pushing Sony BMG, WMG and other holdouts to reconsider their protectionist positions include:

- Initial sales and kudos from the media and consumers for Amazon’s all mp3 store
- Rumors that we’ve been hearing for weeks of a billion (*yes that’s a b*) track giveaway involving Pepsi and the Amazon mp3 store to be unveiled during the Super Bowl[![Drm_anti_wall](https://hypebot.typepad.com/hypebot/images/2007/11/30/drm_anti_wall.jpg "Drm_anti_wall")](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/2007/11/30/drm%5Fanti%5Fwall.jpg&ref=hypebot.com)
- Rumors that WalMart.com is demanding that all labels deliver tracks as DRM free mp3’s or risk being booted off the site
- Solid digital sales increases at EMI since going DRM free
- Signs that the Universal "experiment" is now a permanent policy shift
- An increasing number of hold-out labels including most recently Hollywood experimenting with DRM free sales
- Rumors that Sony BMG is readying an mp3 experiment and that WMG is finally allowing the possibility to be be openly discussed
- A more rapid than expected decline in physical CD sales
- Increased popularity of The Zune and other players beyond the iPod

Just a week ago I asked "[Has The March To DRM Free Stalled?](http://hypebot.typepad.com/hypebot/2007/11/is-the-march-to.html?ref=hypebot.com)" It appears that I should have trusted my own December ’06 prediction that 2007 would be the breakthrough year for DRM free music.

*Sources: Original Reporting and [Billboard.biz](http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content%5Fdisplay/industry/e3i6efb69eb2243cb845944b4fb3b55e10c?ref=hypebot.com) (Ed Christman)*