There is a whisper going round that Sony BGM iTunes Plus high quality AAC files are coming to the Apple iTunes store sometime in the near future, so that will be 256kbit audio tracks without DRM.

For some reason, despite Apple apparent willingness to sell DRM free music, other major music labels have withheld the ability from Apple in a bid to reduce Apple iTunes market share in the digital music downloads world.

Sony BMG joining iTunes will probably leave Warner Music and Universal Music Group as the remaining Apple iTunes holdouts, while the biggest beneficiary seems to be Amazon as they presently offer DRM free music via 4 major studios.

Source — 9to5mac