Seems Microsoft is not shy of Zune announcements this week. After the price drops for the SSD-based Zunes and some updates to the Zune marketplace software and the firmware of the Zune itself, there’s a new, crunchy announcement today.

Microsoft is apparently adding a twist to its Zune Pass subscriptions (costing $14.99 a month) which by the way don’t even need an actual Zune for. Once per month you can now download ten songs from the marketplace and keep them for life. Even if the subscription runs out you can keep the songs. Some 90% of the files will be DRM-less MP3 music, the rest will be protected WMA files. The former will be therefore able to be transferred to other devices without restriction.

The four usual suspects (Sony BMG, Universal Music Group, EMI, and Warner Music) are in for the ride along with some indie labels, for a total of roughly 90% of all Zune songs to take your pick from. The unused tracks don’t stack, so if you only use 6 tracks one month, the next one you’ll still get 10 not 14. All-in-all that’s 120 tracks per year offered free for Zune subscribers.

The flash-memory-based Zunes have gotten a price cut this week too. The 4GB model will now set you back $99 instead of $130; the 8GB Zune is now $139 down from $150; finally the 16GB is $179 where it used to be $200. Some of its accessories have also gotten cheaper: You’ll now pay $69 instead of $79 for the Zune Car Pack, the Home AV pack was the same $79 but is now $59, and the Dock pack is now $39, formerly $49.

You can go to stores and buy at the new prices now as they are in full effect, as is the Zune Market offer.