The power equation in music is shifting a little bit away from the RIAA - Apple just renewed their contracts for downloadable music, keeping the price per song at 99 cents. That's a setback for the music execs, who really wanted variable pricing.

Apple Computer on Monday revealed it had renewed contracts with the four largest record companies to sell songs through its iTunes digital store at 99 cents each. The agreements came after months of bargaining, and were a defeat for music companies that had been pushing for a variable pricing model.

The music industry’s big four - Universal, Warner Music, EMI and Sony BMG -- were not immediately available to comment.

Still not a complete win for end users - after all, iTunes still uses DRM. But it's movement away from the RIAA - which is good.