With Apple’s and EMI’s move to release digital-rights-management-free music on the iTunes Store, it’s hard to imagine the dam not breaking.

Apple’s EMI offerings will come in the form of 256kbps AAC tracks, and will be offered at $1.29 each. Let’s take a look at what this does:

• EMI gets more revenue per track — something the labels have been wailing about
• consumers get higher bitrate, and DRM-free tracks
• and Apple probably increases iTS sales

All of a sudden, everybody wins.

Interestingly, iTunes customers can upgrade their previously purchased EMI tracks for 30¢ per song with a one-click option. Pretty damn cool. Also interesting is that this move may push the AAC format to the undisputed heavyweight throne of audio formats.

Pump Away, Bill

Pedaling wildly in atttempts to catch up to Apple’s iPod success, Microsoft announced — in an abrupt about-face* — it too will offer DRM-free music.

Since EMI announced that they will release their entire music library without DRM, Microsoft has apparently jumped on board, following Apple in selling EMI’s unprotected songs. Zune marketing director Jason Reindorm told CNET, “We’ve been saying for awhile that we are aware that consumers want to have unprotected content…[DRM] will force the various services to really innovate.” He couldn’t say, however, when EMI’s music would be available through the Zune Marketplace. [Searchviews]

EMI will probably not suffer the gruesome predictions the music industry’s lawyers and garden-variety paranoids shout from rooftops every few weeks. Pirates will continue to pirate music, and legitimate sales will continue to rise. Legitimate buyers will see their options open on how they can enjoy their music, and a large percentage of those on the sidelines will now switch (back) to iTunes Store from CDs. Hell, I might unpart ways with the iTS, after a long hiatus.

*

When CEO Steve Jobs issued his open letter calling for an end to DRM, Microsoft said the total abolition of such protections would be irresponsible, since they are needed for subscription music and other new business models. However, the software maker said Wednesday that it does plan to offer DRM-free music from EMI and others. [CNET]