Popular internet retailer Amazon has announced that they will be launching their own iTunes competitor music store, but unlike any other major service, the store will be entirely free of usage restrictions and support the ubiquitous MP3 format. The site is promising 12,000 labels, though the only major label on board is EMI. While this is certainly the most substantial undertaking by a major retailer, other DRM-free stores have existed with substantial indie prescence for a number of years. Besides leader Emusic.com, companies like Audiolunchbox.com, Downloadpunk.com and others have existed DRM-free since their respective foundings. No launch date has been announced yet, but they are promising “later this year.”
