Amazon is looking to launch its own online music store complete with DRM-free tracks in an effort to take a slice out of the iPod+iTunes pie. The service will likely launch in May and include music from EMI and independent labels, according to The Times Online.

DRM-free tracks, or music tracks that don't contain copy protection mechanisms, are likely to be key to the success of any music service attempting to take on the iTunes Store. After Apple and EMI announced in April that EMI's music library would soon be available without copy protection through the iTunes Store, other services that hadn't signed a similar deal with EMI were at a disadvantage since their offerings were typically encoded with copy prevention technology.

Copy protection in music downloads often limits which portable music players the tracks are compatible with, which in some cases leads to frustrated customers. By offering DRM-free tracks, however, music services contend that more consumers are likely to buy music online, and that's something that Amazon is hoping will work in its favor.

This isn't the first time that word of a possible Amazon music service has surfaced. In February 2006, it appeared that Amazon was close to launching an online music subscription service that was to include an Amazon-branded digital music player. Neither materialized.

In September 2006, Amazon launched its Unbox video download service that was panned by consumers and critics as unreliable and difficult to use. Should Amazon finally launch a music service that functions the same as Unbox, Apple shouldn't have to worry about the competition.