How to Convert Protected WMA Files to MP3 (Legally)

Do you have Digital Rights Management protected WMA files, such as the ones Napster used to sell prior to 2008? Listeners who own the digital rights management WMA files often cannot listen to them on portable media players that don't support protected WMA files. Ipods especially are finicky with the exact format they support (though I can't recall whether they support WMA's or not - if they're protected, don't count on it.) Fortunately, users can convert these protected WMA files into unprotected MP3 format, provided they own the rights legally. Please do recognize that you should not use this method to skirt around the copyright protection of songs you do not legally own.

Things You'll Need:

Your protected WMA files
CD ripping and burning software (such as Nero, Windows Media Player, etc.)
Blank CD-R or CD-RW

Step 1:

Open the protected WMA files in the CD burning software. In some cases, you can open the software and drag and drop files into the burn queue. If you don't have the rights on the computer you're using, the software won't open the files and you'll have to either re-download the rights (if you get that option) or perform the rest of the steps on the authorized computer.

Step 2:

Insert the blank CD into the CD drive of the computer.

Step 3:

Select the "Burn CD" command in the software. Wait for the burn cycle to complete in its entirety before performing any other computer applications, as these can disrupt the burn process and lead to a ruined CD. Re-insert the disc back into the drive if the software ejects it upon completion.

Step 4:

Navigate to the Rip tab in the software. Use the Options menu to select "MP3" as the desired rip format, and select a folder on your computer where you want the software to save the new files.

Step 5:

Press the "Rip" command. When the software is finished ripping the files, your songs will be in unprotected MP3 format.

Tips:

If you used a blank CD-RW, you may now erase it and reuse it. It saves money, and besides, I hate throwing away a perfectly good CD, since many CD players (at least older ones) refuse to play a CD whose native files are protected WMA, even if the software says it converts it during the burn process.