AllofMP3.com Offers Free DRMed MP3s

AllofMP3.com, which may or may not be preventing Russia from joining the WTO, launched a free software player called Music for the Masses that can play any DRM-ed 128 Kbps "MP3x" file downloaded from AllofMP3.com. Only registered users can use the service, and your computer must be connected to the Internet during playback, indicating that the DRM mechanism works by communicating with the AllofMP3.com.

In one sense, it's ironic that a site that gained notoriety by selling un-DRMed files would launch a free DRM service. But in another sense, it's not surprising at all. This approach posits that open, unrestricted music is worth money, while DRM-ed music is not.

Here's how to install and use the Music for the Masses player (text from AllofMP3.com):

"1. Download and install the player:

• Download Music for Masses build 0.51 alpha version (~2.2 Mb)

2. Log in to allofmp3.com and order some tracks for free (see screenshot);

3. Download tracks with .mp3x extension to your regular download location;

4. Run the player, enter your allofmp3 login name and password;

5. Add songs to the playlist to start listening (or you may click on .mp3x files you downloaded to run the player and listen)."

The ultimate fate of AllofMP3.com is hard to predict, but itsapproach of selling more music for less money with no DRM could prove to beahead of its time.