The boss at Yahoo Music, Dave Goldberg, thinks Apple CEO Steve Jobs got it right when he suggested that record labels should drop digital rights management (DRM) in downloaded songs. When Yahoo experimented with DRM-free songs, music sales went up, according to Silicon Valley Watcher. Goldberg commented: “I’ve long advocated removing DRM on music because there is already a lot of music available without DRM, and it just makes things complicated for the user.” Another issue is that Yahoo Music relies on Microsoft’s DRM technology, which he says “doesn’t work half the time.”

Goldberg’s comments follow an open letter Jobs wrote condemning the recording labels for forcing digital music retailers, including the iTunes Store, into using DRM copy protection. The Recording Industry Association of America , however, disagrees, and is pushing for Apple to open its FairPlay copy protection to competitors. The idea of offering DRM-free songs is growing, and even big name label EMI Group is tossing the idea around. If more music download companies climb on board with Apple, and labels start to seriously consider selling copy protection-free songs, the RIAA may not be able to prevent the move to a more open music selling system.