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So - for now - DRM-free music is still at play? Or has EMI really backed-off from this?

Which leaves the way clear for Apple to buy either WMG or EMI.

I rather EMI buy out Warner and oust that aweful DRM loving Barffman.

It would be insane for Apple to buy out EMI. They would destroy their relationships with all of the other content owners.

LinuxGuy…

As much as we would like to think otherwise, there is no "relationship".

There is simply a mutual desire to make money; SonyBMG and UMG have continually indicated their antipathy towards online sales generally and Apple, iTunes, iTS and iPod customers specifically, but they are conflicted as iTS is the one little ray of hope in their cocaine-afflicted world.

If Apple were to purchase either the whole or a significant part of EMI and/or WMG, the effect would be to put the remaining players on warning: Stop rattling your sabres every time the contracts come up for renewal!

Purchasing 35% of EMI and WMG would cost a mere fraction of what Apple has in the bank and would - to all intents and purposes - give Steve Jobs and Eddy Cue the right to obstruct the day-to-day running of both of these companies if Apple detected that their interests were being compromised by the frankly Luddite behaviour of the incumbent executive boards.

And – just so that we're not in any doubt about what I mean by obstructing the day-to-day running - executive remuneration would be my first stop.

Well Sony -- i guess you'll just have to find someone else to anchor you dying company too..