Apple courts indies with DRM break

An e-mail circulated by Apple yesterday confirms that the company is offering the smaller labels the ability to submit DRM-free music and DRM-free music videos to its customers through iTunes, reports MacRumors.

Though short on details, the communication made it clear that music agencies will receive the same DRM-free privileges negotiated between Apple and major publisher EMI.

"Many of you have reached out to iTunes to find out how you can make your songs available higher quality and DRM-free," Apple wrote in the communication. "Starting next month, iTunes will begin offering higher-quality, DRM-free music and DRM-free music videos to all customers."

The declaration serves as a gateway to indie record producers looking to drop safeguards from their music. Many publishing houses beyond the four majors already sell music and other media from artists without the software restriction in place, whether through smaller stores such as Beatport and eMusic or self-managed outlets.