Music Download Services
The original version of Napster and the other free file sharing/swapping software and websites essentially called for the death of the record (cd) store. Personally I think this is a good thing, it's just someone else that's taking their percentage of my dollar. The download services boast 250,000 up to 600,000 individual titles, which is great. The actual song offerings and whether or not you can buy what you're looking for actually depends on what labels (music companies) that the download service has a contract with. For example, if your favorite artist is on Spitfire records, you're better off buying the CD because I could not find a service that offered their music on-line.
Before getting started with download services, you may need your music software to be the most recent version -- for Windows Media Player, you will need version 9 (available from the Microsoft Website, please note you dialup users could have a lengthy download).
The music purchase sites work in 1 of 2 ways. Some sites work using a piece of software (Napster is an example) and some of these sites work directly off of their websites (BuyMusic.com is an example).
The available services:
| Site | Operating System | Singles $ | # Songs | Comments |
| Wal-Mart | Win | $.88 | 300,000 | Inexpensive, easy to use service. Please note, G-rated versions of songs only. |
Napster | Win | $.99 | 400,000 | Whole music package, radio, downloads, magazine and community |
| iTunes | Win/Mac | $.99 | 500,000 | Simple interface, can only be used with iPod |
| emusic | Win/Mac | $9.95 for 40 songs | 400,000 | iPod compatible, community, lots of Indie labels, package deals only -- cannot do single titles. |
Musicmatch | Win | $.99 | 500,000 | Constant upgrade offers, but nice basic interface, lots of indie lables and personalization, includes radio stations |
| Real | Win | $.99 | 500,000 | Pop-up Ads. National radio syndicator, great customer service, but what's with the ads?!?!? |
| Listen | Win | $.79 | 650,000 | Radio Plus, Major and Indie labels, $9.95 monthly minimum/fee |
| Buy Music | Win | $.79 | 400,000 | Consolidated into Buy.com, catalog was not terribly deep. Great customer service, very simple to use. |
| Music Lunchbox | Win | $.99 | 100,000 | Many Indie labels available here, limited but growing selection |
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Rhapsody
iMesh
Limewire
More information on MP3 Players.
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