SanDisk Debuts DRM-Free Sansa Sessions

SanDisk is highlighting music from over 50 new and emerging artists by distributing their music in DRM-free format...on SanDisk microSD cards.

SanDisk has announced a new program called Sansa Sessions to promote DRM-free music—and its new Sansa Fuze music players—by offering tracks from more than 50 new and emerging artists in DRM-free format…on microSD cards. For a limited time, customers who purchase the 8 GB Sansa Fuse will also receive a promotional offer they can redeem for the Sansa Sessions music sampler pre-loaded on a microSD card.

“We’re excited to be working with labels and artists to create a new ecosystem for music,” said SanDisk senior VP and audio/video product line general manager Daniel Schreiber, in a statement. “The Sansa Sessions music card gives customers a simple way to enjoy, manage, and discover new music. This is just the beginning of our efforts to bring consumers a simplified and highly enjoyable music experience.”

More than 50 tracks have been licensed for the sampler by LA-based NonStop Riot and represent a cross-section of hip-hop, rock, and rap music tracks and videos from more than 30 music labels, including Nada Surf, Of Montreal, The Coup, and Magnet. SanDisk says it’s working with NonStop Riot to develop new ways to distribute music directly on devices and memory cards.

On the face of it, the promotion seems like a good deal to anyone considering a Fuze music player: if you like the music, you can easily share it with friends, and if you don’t…you still have a microSD card you can use with the device. SanDisk hasn’t revealed the capacity of the Sansa Sessions microSD cards, but still: free is free.