As widely rumoured, EMI Music is launching new premium downloads for retail on a global basis, making all of its digital repertoire available - at a much higher sound quality than existing downloads - free of digital rights management (DRM) restrictions. Apple's iTunes Store will be the first online music store to sell the new downloads.

EMI says it is releasing the premium downloads in response to consumer demand for high fidelity digital music for use on home music systems, mobile phones and digital music players. EMI's new DRM-free products will enable full interoperability of digital music across all devices and platforms.