7digital DRM-Free Sales Skyrocket

Author Gordon Kelly
Published 7th Jul 2008
7digital DRM-Free Sales Skyrocket
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We already knew DRM-free sales were destroying DRM-infested ones by a ratio of 4:1 and now 7digital, the UK's first DRM-free only site, is reaping even more benefits after snagging Warner Music...


Following the March deal which saw 7digital beat iTunes to become the first DRM-free Warner Music retailer, sales are up a staggering 300 per cent in the first half of 2008 making it the UK's second largest online music store. Another feather in its cap also saw 7digital become the UK's biggest DRM-free MP3 seller of the new Coldplay album 'Viva la Vida' beating HMV, Play.com, Tesco, Woolworths and Napster (iTunes was the leading digital retailer but still refuses to sell the MP3 format).

"It is now clear that MP3 downloads represent the future for digital music," said Ben Drury, CEO of 7digital.com. "With two of the four major labels now supporting MP3 in the UK, we expect to see the whole market supporting MP3 in the not-too-distant future."

This is an interesting last comment from Drury since we hear on the grapevine 7digital will complete a major coup by landing DRM-free deals for both Sony BMG and Universal - the remaining two of the so-called 'Big Four' record labels - in the near future. This would give it a major one-up on iTunes and also a head start on Amazon MP3 which also has DRM-free deals in place with the Big Four but has yet to launch in the UK.

A classic case of the little guy making good? It's increasingly looking that way...

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Comment Andy said on 8th July 2008

Therein lies the problem with all these services. Digital distribution is pretty moot if it doesn't provide the flexbility a digital medium is supposed to. It's very anno... more

Comment Gordon said on 8th July 2008

depends what bitrate you want Simon - 7digital does offer far higher bitrates than iTunes.

Comment Simon Dyson said on 8th July 2008

I don't necessarily want higher - I want selection. Everybody's needs are different. For example I may want smaller bitrates to fit more onto an MP3 player.

more

Comment McDave said on 22nd July 2008

Wake up Gordon, iTunes Plus offers the same higher bitrate but with the later codec (2 generations & 14 years later) giving it the equivalent of 384kbps of MPEG1/MP3 and practi... more

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