As expected, those slow-to-get-it SonyBMG types have finally agreed to make their digital catalogue available without digital rights management technology, signing up to Amazon's much hyped DRM-free MP3 download platform. The move means all four major record companies are now making music available without DRM, and we can expect all of them to expand their MP3 catalogues in the coming months, and to start making DRM-free music available in all territories via all a la carte download platforms.
Confirming they had entered into an MP3 deal with Amazon in the US, SonyBMG's Global Digital Business blokey Thomas Hesse told reporters: "We are excited to be working with Amazon as they continue to build new markets for digital music. We are constantly exploring new ways of making our music available to consumers in the physical space, over the internet and through mobile phones, and this initiative is the newest element of our ongoing campaign to bring our music to fans wherever they happen to be".
It has not been confirmed exactly when SonyBMG's music will arrive on Amazon's download platform, though presumably before the previously reported Amazon/Pepsi promotion due to be launched next month, which the major is expected to participate in.
SonyBMG's signing up to the Amazon MP3 store is in addition to the 'album card' programme it launched earlier this week, where customers can buy special cards from music retailers which enable them to download DRM free albums from a special website. As previously reported, it is thought that SonyBMG had been planning a slower move into the DRM-free space through a series of initiatives like the album cards, but was forced to come fully on board with Amazon after Warner Music announced it would be joining EMI and Universal on the MP3 platform over the Christmas break, leaving SonyBMG as the only major not participating in what could well be the big success story in digital music in 2008.