There are three big announcements today that relate to DRM-free downloads. For a change, there will be some optimism in the air (for a day or two) about the future of recorded music....not that I expect the other three majors to hurt themselves in a mad scramble to follow suit, but it's good to see EMI giving it a shot.

Amazon.com ended months of speculation and announced today it launch a music download store that will sell unprotected MP3 downloads. The store, to launch later this year, will offer more than 12,000 record labels, but only one major, EMI. No details were given on pricing. EMI already announced a deal with Apple that will offer DRM-free downloads at $1.29, a $0.30-cent-per-track premium over the cost for a protected AAC download.

EMI also had two other related announcements today. In France, VirginMega will sell EMI tracks as DRM-free, higher-quality downloads. The downloads will be 320kbps MP3 files; the existing format will also be available.

And In Scandanavia, EMI has an agreement with multiple online and mobile operators to sell premium, DRM-free downloads in the coming months. The deal covers more than 20 stores and will push bits rates "up to CD quality."

[music jobs] HR Manager at EMI NA; New York, NY.