Yahoo Music Rumored to Ditch DRM

If word on the grapevine is true, Yahoo Music could be offering DRM-free tracks within the year.

It look as though one more major player in digital music is looking to jump ship on DRM and join Amazon and eMusic in offering unprotected tracks. According to the Chinese newspaper Sina, Yahoo is attempting to hammer out an agreement with record companies that would allow Yahoo Music to swing open the doors on DRM-free music.

Sina cites two anonymous “record label executives” who claim Yahoo wants to offer unprotected music as part of a music service supported by ads, although it isn’t yet clear whether tracks would be offered for sale or free.  The discussions supposedly took place last month, with Yahoo attempting to seal the deal before the year’s end.

A spokeswoman for Yahoo confirmed the company’s intention to offer DRM-free tracks and talks with record companies, but offered no other details. Yahoo Music currently uses Microsoft’s WMA encryption scheme as part of its subscription-based music service, but Yahoo executives have expressed their discontent with DRM in the past and shown a desire to bypass it.