Why doesn't Microsoft provide songs from Xbox Music in wma format?

[Makm]

Admitted that mp3 is universally supported in almost every hardware on this planet, but why doesn't Microsoft provide the songs from Xbox Music in their own wma format? Just like how apple provides songs from iTunes in their m4a container. That would make more sense right..?

 

[N_LaRUE]

Maybe ask this in the MS community forum? It may have been asked already...

Microsoft Community

 

[Desynthesis]

I assume it's because Microsoft actively encourages people to use their music on other devices, and was doing so back when the Zune came out many years ago (and devices supported fewer formats).

MP3s are not great in terms of quality (from what I understand), but it is the most commonly supported format. If you buy music from Amazon.com, they do the exact same thing (though I guess Amazon doesn't have an excuse of having their own format). My WMA format music almost entirely comes from using the Zune to rip CDs.