How to Remove DRM from WMA - Is It Legal and Worth the Effort?

Technically, it's illegal to remove DRM from WMA protected music. Digital Rights Management (DRM) is part of the music industry's effort to curb piracy. There are legitimate reasons for removing it, but first understand DRM can not be removed from file sharing network downloads. Most tracks can be legally copied 3 to 5 times, and this has been exceeded long before they appear on a peer-to-peer network. You must have either purchased the music or have unrestricted free music downloads.

There is no easy way to remove DRM, but it can be removed with some effort and know-how. The best advice is to only download music in the format you need, and that you have the right to copy to an mp3 player, CD or other device. It's also important to determine that the player will recognize and play the DRM protected WMA track.

What if I Really Like the songs and Want to convert them?

Let's say you've already downloaded music and need to convert to another audio codec. The common conversion method is to burn the tracks on a CD, then rip them in the desired codec's format. Even this requires special ripping software and numerous steps because the DRM is still embedded in the tracks. And because codecs like WMA, mp3, OGG, AAC, etc. are lossy formats, the sound quality will be degraded.

Lossy formats selectively discard sounds the human can't hear to make the file smaller. But each format removes slightly different sounds. For example, converting a track using a WMA to mp3 converter is now missing the sounds that both codecs have deleted.

There are other ways to remove DRM and convert WMA to mp3, but they require numerous steps and more software - and they're not for the technically challenged. Free WMA to mp3 conversion software and detailed instructions are available on the Internet.

MP3 players information from A to Z: player types & features, how they work, accessories,comparisons and more - plus free music download tips and info at A-Z MP3 Players.com, Your Complete A-Z Resource for MP3 Players, Accessories and Information.

This article may be re-printed in its entirety, with no changes and this resource box included. © 2005 http://www.a-z-mp3-players.com All rights reserved

In The News:
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jKNBoW1hE87ueAcQPjWt3Jd7UaQAD93KSRSO0cid=1254737826ei=BEjqSIqtKJf-6gOzl_WFDAusg=AFQjCNGzeqFdaI1d71j3Z9dyPQ58RsjZiwimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=gfGMHDUUh8EJimgurl=ap.google.com/media/ALeqM5hmb3tWlJynpJ36-HjJPaKLyMxdIg width=66 height=80 alt= border=1brfont size=-2The Associated Press/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jKNBoW1hE87ueAcQPjWt3Jd7UaQAD93KSRSO0cid=1254737826ei=BEjqSIqtKJf-6gOzl_WFDAusg=AFQjCNGzeqFdaI1d71j3Z9dyPQ58RsjZiwJimmy Kimmel returns as American bMusic/b Awards host/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fThe Associated Pressnbsp;-/font nobr8 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1NEW YORK (AP) — Jimmy Kimmel is coming back to provide more laughs for the American bMusic/b Awards. The comedian and talk show host is slated to host the b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://drownedinsound.com/articles/4128434cid=1253938138ei=BEjqSIqtKJf-6gOzl_WFDAusg=AFQjCNHlePXwbQ9mBs80-tOV1Jh6mi3ZkAimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=dVjc0HV6zHYJimgurl=old.drownedinsound.com/resized_images/190x190/39781.jpeg width=80 height=80 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Drowned In Sound/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5jA9RQoMv00OhaPMxLvipVp-a3TgQcid=1253938138ei=BEjqSIqtKJf-6gOzl_WFDAusg=AFQjCNEJmezArD0kOqwLxk34rV7F7UaDwAPop stars demand control over bmusic/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fThe Press Associationnbsp;-/font nobr2 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Robbie Williams, Radiohead and Kate Nash are among Britain#39;s top pop and rock acts who are demanding more control over their bmusic/b. Dozens of the bmusic/b b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp%3Fvnu_content_id%3D1003870699cid=1253938138ei=BEjqSIqtKJf-6gOzl_WFDAusg=AFQjCNFRDhX4eS6yjqiKQf0HFz9E34dhDwUK Artists Form Coalition To Protect Rights/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrBillboard/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://blog.wired.com/music/2008/10/radiohead-other.htmlcid=1253938138ei=BEjqSIqtKJf-6gOzl_WFDAusg=AFQjCNG_qNis4YbfPHiEeC8UlCBUZridLQRadiohead, Billy Bragg, Others Join to Demand Fair Treatment/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrWired News/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.allaboutsymbian.com/news/item/8220_The_Music_Industry_Reacts_To_O.phpcid=1253938138ei=BEjqSIqtKJf-6gOzl_WFDAusg=AFQjCNHOqRWofKd_9sEgIN7_UG_D7IxqKQThe bMusic/b Industry Reacts To Online bMusic/b/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrAll About Symbian/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1 class=pa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.nme.com/news/radiohead/40232cid=1253938138ei=BEjqSIqtKJf-6gOzl_WFDAusg=AFQjCNEz1Civ_jDEyIeQvzjNor6WC0senQnobrNME.com/nobr/anbsp;- a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/009200810041876.htmcid=1253938138ei=BEjqSIqtKJf-6gOzl_WFDAusg=AFQjCNGdRBSYhjkawb5iGdvN60wtvD92lgnobrHindu/nobr/a/fontbr/font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1253938138hl=ennobrall 360 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/noteflight-launches-first-online-music/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B88975314-4613-4A7D-9EB2-D2DE5CCF968A%257D%26dist%3Dhpprcid=1254793216ei=BEjqSIqtKJf-6gOzl_WFDAusg=AFQjCNGWXLvaWMna_v6YaPTpDBgDSOhWYANoteflight Launches the First Online bMusic/b Notation Editor/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr4 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1The score can be played directly from the browser, shared with individuals, published online or printed as sheet bmusic/b for use by live musicians. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/universal-music-group-umg-partners/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B04FD1E0F-BF5F-4E21-8215-D25AEEEB41D4%257D%26dist%3Dhpprcid=1254824572ei=BEjqSIqtKJf-6gOzl_WFDAusg=AFQjCNGCP0tTRXR8ciz8FhEvKdFqmwzcAgUniversal bMusic/b Group (UMG) Partners With Dada Entertainment/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr1 hour ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Starting today, tracks from Universal bMusic/b Group#39;s catalogue will be available for Dada.net users to download as DRM-free full-track MP3s and ringtones. b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/universal-music-group-umg-joins/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B763EA729-3B11-4CF7-9E35-A22D381D843B%257D%26dist%3Dhpprcid=1254824572ei=BEjqSIqtKJf-6gOzl_WFDAusg=AFQjCNEMaNWBe_5ATWtSrohqUiYrZ3kRdgUniversal bMusic/b Group (UMG) Joins Flycell to Celebrate Hispanic b.../b/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrMarketWatch/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1254824572hl=ennobrall 11 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/music-industry-digital-music-services-announce/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B2377830A-0AFB-4056-A9C3-B194C30E5425%257D%26dist%3Dhpprcid=1254803144ei=BEjqSIqtKJf-6gOzl_WFDAusg=AFQjCNFUUYHOEpX4bnf4Q9NPDfboC6CI4gbMusic/b-Industry and Digital bMusic/b Services to Announce Major b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr3 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Board members include representatives from: EMI bMusic/b, Sony bMusic/b, Warner bMusic/b Group, Universal bMusic/b Group, The American Society of Composers, b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/american-media-services-interactive-announces/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257BA3352826-A340-433B-BC57-22051A4D8DC4%257D%26dist%3Dhpprcid=1254758089ei=BEjqSIqtKJf-6gOzl_WFDAusg=AFQjCNGBvPV0VqhPX5PLDR2yrTC0TiHJigAmerican Media Services Interactive Announces Alliance with TapIt b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr7 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1As a supplement to media websites, TapIt(R) will deliver access to independent bmusic/b with a forum of artists to sell and promote bmusic/b discovery. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/mtv-tr3s-turns-up-volume/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B52C3785D-F56C-4E50-BAAF-894ACA67C2A1%257D%26dist%3Dhpprcid=1254830816ei=BEjqSIqtKJf-6gOzl_WFDAusg=AFQjCNHHo3BCupp4gaT9k66ouT-uJbmzcgMTV Tr3s Turns Up the Volume on Regional Mexican bMusic/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr1 hour ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1MTV Tr3s is turning up the volume on a much-loved genre of Latino bmusic/b, Regional Mexican, with the development of three exclusive programs, including the b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/emi-published-composer-bryan-le/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257BF8F9A00A-5356-40BE-BD38-F8104C18B7C2%257D%26dist%3Dhpprcid=1254804431ei=BEjqSIqtKJf-6gOzl_WFDAusg=AFQjCNGUJvdZYt9uWzGj4JhlomMP__fFJwEMI Published Composer Bryan Le Bon Discovers Healing Through bMusic/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr3 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Bryan Le Bon has discovered how bmusic/b can alter the brain#39;s thought processes to promote healing. Le Bon#39;s bmusic/b uses the quot;law of vibrationquot; through musical b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://digital-lifestyles.info/2008/10/06/myspace-music-1-billion-songs-streamed-in-a-few-days/cid=1254753451ei=BEjqSIqtKJf-6gOzl_WFDAusg=AFQjCNE6qv9F6S8rekkfBwT5bGNYWuYNYAimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=aNd339uzRVMJimgurl=digital-lifestyles.info/copy_images/myspace-music-billion-lg.jpg width=80 height=74 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Digital-Lifestyles.Info/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-13577_3-10058708-36.htmlcid=1254753451ei=BEjqSIqtKJf-6gOzl_WFDAusg=AFQjCNETQRX8xgodq35Df0gnYCrvqdU1MwMySpace bMusic/b: One billion songs streamed/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fCNET News,nbsp;CAnbsp;-/font nobr2 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1MySpace has put out a statement saying that one billion songs have been streamed since the News Corp. social network debuted its MySpace bMusic/b service last b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/10/05/myspace-music-streamed-its-billionth-song-a-few-days-after-launch/cid=1254753451ei=BEjqSIqtKJf-6gOzl_WFDAusg=AFQjCNE_fOD95LnvoXp-6qLw6u1zp9bCiQMySpace bMusic/b Streamed Its Billionth Song “A Few Days” After Launch/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrTechCrunch/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1254753451hl=ennobrall 6 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7654844.stmcid=1254784425ei=BEjqSIqtKJf-6gOzl_WFDAusg=AFQjCNGRo2WoeJJ3TABFDASw8Z2NFi21jgimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=DUl-o9yWOUAJimgurl=newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45082000/jpg/_45082523_chrismartin_getty226282.jpg width=64 height=80 alt= border=1brfont size=-2BBC News/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://in.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idINTRE4954K320081006cid=1254784425ei=BEjqSIqtKJf-6gOzl_WFDAusg=AFQjCNGHczt5a9gn6YAE5upRlcaTey6_qAColdplay win two top Q bmusic/b awards/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fReuters India,nbsp;Indianbsp;-/font nobr2 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1British band Coldplay won two top prizes at the Q bmusic/b magazine awards on Monday, taking the Best Album title for chart-topper quot;Viva La Vida or Death and b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article4892655.ececid=1254784425ei=BEjqSIqtKJf-6gOzl_WFDAusg=AFQjCNG7WkxtDIXPmcupcmPc6ZVzzFa1KQDouble win for Coldplay at Q Awards/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrTimes Online/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7654844.stmcid=1254784425ei=BEjqSIqtKJf-6gOzl_WFDAusg=AFQjCNGRo2WoeJJ3TABFDASw8Z2NFi21jgDouble Q Award win for Coldplay/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrBBC News/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5jG9Kqx2r1fApA--4mTHYRCXFhrsgcid=1254784425ei=BEjqSIqtKJf-6gOzl_WFDAusg=AFQjCNFRhpPBwfGqGMREkQO2nfiuwj9NrQColdplay celebrate Q Awards double/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrThe Press Association/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1 class=pa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.nme.com/news/coldplay/40251cid=1254784425ei=BEjqSIqtKJf-6gOzl_WFDAusg=AFQjCNHYbGFCWhg04QPCTW61zqACpkNtpAnobrNME.com/nobr/anbsp;- a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.star-ecentral.com/music/reviews/review.asp%3Ffile%3Darchives/music/2008/10/VivaLaVidaorDeathandAllHisFriends%26artist%3DColdplay%26title%3DViva%2520La%2520Vida%2520or%2520Death%2520and%2520All%2520His%2520Friends%26sec%3DMusiccid=1254784425ei=BEjqSIqtKJf-6gOzl_WFDAusg=AFQjCNFdlWaUfmw0SwheQFPSUfuKCggnpwnobrMalaysia Star/nobr/a/fontbr/font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1254784425hl=ennobrall 82 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
music - Google News


Wind Chimes and more...

Windchimes for great gifts!

Does Your CD Cover $ell (Or Suck)?

Oh, I know the last part of the title (Suck)... Read More

How Has Eminem Risen to the Top?

How is it that a little white boy from Kansas... Read More

Modal Theory for Guitar Players - Part 1

IntroductionThe fact that you are holding this in your hands... Read More

A Brief History Of Gibson Guitars

Gibson guitars have been around forever. It's funny, but although... Read More

Would Chopin Have Passed A Music Quiz?

Q. My children are very interested in playing music. Is... Read More

Beginner Guitar Tips: How to Get a Feel

"I don't like to go into the studio with all... Read More

Make Money with Your Music ? the Top 5 Ways

Songwriters dream of making their living by writing, and sometimes... Read More

MP3 Music Subscription Services. A Good Deal?

There's a reason Apple Computer dominates the legal 99-cents-a-download digital... Read More

How to Stop Thinking and Start Playing

Learning how to improvise is confusing for most. The sheer... Read More

Canadian Stars: The Marble Index and the Waking Eyes

Canadian Indie bands are dominating the music scene and it... Read More

Why Play Guitar?

As a full-time guitar instructor, I am constantly faced with... Read More

Improvisation and Musical Form

Do you ramble on endlessly with your improvisations? If so,... Read More

The Death-Defying Warehouse Party Life: An Interview by William of Orange

About an entire local music industry that's rarely heard from,... Read More

Managing Your Time, when Music isnt Your Day Job

You CAN do everything.Repeat.You CAN do everything. What you cannot... Read More

Piano Lessons For Adults: More Fun, Easier, & Faster Than Piano Lessons For Kids

Piano lessons for adults is generally LOTS more fun than... Read More

Guitar Performance - Make The Most of It!

Getting ready for any type of guitar performance can be... Read More

Taps; Piping Military Honors: A Ceremonial Guide for Highland Bagpipers

It has become increasingly popular for U.S. military veterans and... Read More

How I Learned How To Play The Guitar After Giving Up In Disgust

I was 17 at the time (the Beatles era), and... Read More

The History Of Drums - A Journey Of Sound

Music and musical instruments are an extremely important part of... Read More

Open Position Piano Chords - Perfect for the New Age Style

The Open Position Chord (OPC) allows you to create a... Read More

10 Ways for Unknown Musicians to Get the Word Out

When Clear Channel controls the radio and the monopoly newspaper... Read More

Guide to Finding Music Online

Are you frustrated because finding your favorite songs on the... Read More

?Who Else Wants to Get Screwed When Signing a Recording or Songwriting Deal?!?!?

You've got your recording (or songwriting) contract in hand and... Read More

A Brief History of Gongs

The gong is one of the oldest musical instruments in... Read More

Living Life Loud

Change is good. Just ask the millions of unsigned artists... Read More