Following a deal with Sony BMG, London-based 7Digital becomes the first online music service to offer digital rights management free tracks, boasting a library of over four million songs.
Sony BMG was the last of the four major music labels to embrace the higher quality restriction free mp3s. In January, the label changed its stance and, as expected, Apple's iTunes was excluded from its plans.
Sony BMG followed Universal and Warner as they flocked to Amazon's online store with their DRM-free mp3s in favour of Amazon's flexible pricing schemes. EMI Records was the first to go DRM-free and the only major label to offer the tracks on iTunes.
With Apple officially handcuffed with its iTunes/iPod compatibility, 7Digital now offers the most 320kbps mp3s without copyright protection available for download in Europe.
The tracks will work on any device including iPods, iPhones, mp3 players and mobile phones and can be legally copied between multiple devices. Furthermore, All Sony BMG music purchased from the site before the deal will be upgraded to mp3 format from wma for free.
Ben Drury, CEO of 7Digital, said: "Consumers see DRM as somewhat of a hindrance when purchasing legal digital music. The availability of all of the big four music labels in high-quality MP3 is fantastic news for the UK music fan."
To mark the event 7Digital is offering two albums for free download on their website, the first featuring a sample of artists from EMI and the second a selections from 7Digital's top indie downloads.
7Digital's reign at the top will not remain uncontested for long, however, as Amazon is expected to open an online music store in the UK next month. 7Digital also announced plans for US and Canada mp3 stores at the end of the year.
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