HMV seems like the latest big name to join the DRM Free MP3 sales market. Looks like they plan to undercut iTMS in an attempt to increase sales.
HMV and other bricks and mortar music stores haven't been doing so well of late as sales of physical CDs have been dropping.
It is exciting to see more and more players enter the market of DRM free digital download sales. HMV is going to offer tracks as high bit rate mp3, for example, and this "innovation" will lead to all sorts of different product offerings.