Times Online reports that Sony, Warner, Universal and EMI are about to release a new album download format that will include digital versions of all the materials that normally accompany a physical CD – lyrics, artwork, even video. The aim is to expand the sales of complete albums rather than individual songs. CMX, as the format is currently being called, will be launched in November – but only accompanying a handful of titles at the start.

Not surprisingly Apple was asked to support the format as a part of the iTunes Music Store, but declined. Instead the company is apparently opting to create its own format, codenamed Cocktail. Although it would be nice to have a standardized format agreed upon by all the major players, at this point in time I tend to think that any format supported by iTunes/iPod is going to end up being the the only format that matters – and since Apple is the only company mentioned here who has stated a preference for open, non-protected formats, that’s probably a good thing.