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Comparison of digital music stores

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The following table lists online music stores that carry a selection of songs by many record labels and artists. The stores listed below access passive databases and require access through a computer or some allow access and downloads through a mobile phone.[1][2] Only stores that have 1 million songs or will have 1 million songs soon[original research?] and offer a wide general selection of music are listed below.[3]

Store Selection (approximately) Geographic restrictions Platform Format DRM Preview Trial Other
7digital 3,500,000 songs[4] Some[5] Platform Independent for MP3 songs 192, and 320 kbit/s MP3; 192, and 320 kbit/s AAC; 192 kbit/s WMA Partial, WMA only 30 seconds None Podcasting; charts; videos; trailers; audiobooks
Amazon MP3 10,182,203 songs US, UK, and Germany only Platform independent for individual tracks and browsing the store, Amazon MP3 Downloader is required for downloading albums (Windows 98 or later, Mac OS X or Linux)[6] 256 kbit/s VBR MP3 No 30 seconds None Amazon MP3 Downloader integrates with iTunes and Windows Media Player[6]
Amie Street 850,000 songs[7] Worldwide for most tracks, some tracks are only available in the United States or Japan Platform Independent MP3 No 85 seconds[8] Free credit and RECs during signup Ability to earn credit with RECs
BuyMusic 1,000,000 songs[9] United States[10] Windows 98 or above, IE 5.01 or above[10] 128, and 256 kbit/s WMA[10] Yes, PlaysForSure[10] Un­known None
CDBaby 245,528 artists None? Platform independent MP3 200 kbit/s VBR No 30 seconds None Full albums only
Classical Archives 620,000+ tracks, 7,800+ composers, 27,000+ artists, 120+ labels Worldwide for most tracks, some tracks are only available in the United States and Canada Platform independent (Current browser versions preferred) 320 kbit/s MP3, 256 kbit/s MP3, 192 kbit/s MP3, MIDI No 60 seconds 14 days Stream WMA, download MP3 and MIDI, free Music also available (limits per day)
eMusic 2,000,000 songs, 100,000 artists, 200,000 albums, 40,000 labels Varies by track Windows 98 or later; Linux; Mac OS 9/X[11] 256 kbit/s VBR MP3, older tracks: 192 kbit/s VBR MP3[11] No 30 seconds[11] 25 downloads Download concerts, and audiobooks
GoMusic 2,650,000 songs[12] None Platform independent 192 kbit/s MP3 No 30 seconds None Soundtracks, audiobooks, and charts
HMV UK Platform independent 256 kbit/s to 320 kbit/s MP3 No Un­known None
Japan Windows XP or Windows Vista; Internet Explorer 6 or later 128 kbit/s WMA; 66 kbit/s to 105 kbit/s to 132 kbit/s ATRAC3[clarification needed] Yes, PlaysForSure WMA and OpenMG on ATRAC3
iMesh[13] 4,000,000 pay-for songs, 15,000,000 free songs[14] United States, Canada XP or Vista with Windows Media Player 10 or later. 320 kbit/s or 256 kbit/s MP3, 128 kbit/s WMA and various depending upon user shared content. Partial, PlaysForSure WMA for subscriptions, 320 kbit/s or 256 kbit/s MP3 for purchases, user shared content (free) may vary. 30 seconds 14 days from first premium download. Artist discovery; Staff created playlists; soundtracks; online community.
iTunes Store More than 10 million songs worldwide. United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, and select European countries[15] Mac OS X 10.4.11 or later; Windows XP Service Pack 2 or later. 256 kbit/s VBR AAC No 30 seconds[16] None Podcasting; charts; movie trailers; audiobooks; movies; TV Shows; Music Videos; iTunes U; iPod Games; iPhone/iPod Touch Apps;
Japan 128 kbit/s AAC; 256 kbit/s VBR AAC Partial, some Japanese record labels retain FairPlay DRM protection on their products
Jamendo
Lala 8 million songs United States Platform independent 256 kbit/s MP3 VBR No Full tracks None Preview full songs before purchasing. Web songs sold for 10 cents are playable online unlimited. MP3s sold for 79-99 cents per track.
Magnatune 10,000 songs None Platform independent MP3 high quality VBR and 128 kbit/s, WAV, FLAC, AAC, OGG No Full albums at 128k Free listening at 128k Encourages the distribution of up to 3 copies of bought albums to friends; price defined by user starting at 5 USD per album (50/50 revenue split); exclusive selection; streaming and download memberships for unlimited listening/downloads
Napster 8,000,000 songs[17] United States, Canada, Germany, or United Kingdom[17] Napster Web application (Windows/Mac/Linux), Internet Explorer 7.x (Recommended)

or Firefox 2.x, Flash Player 8+; Napster software application (Windows only): Windows XP/Vista; Internet Explorer 7.x (Recommended); Windows Media Player 10+.[18]

Purchase: 128, and 256 kbit/s DRM-free MP3;[19] Subscription: 128, and 192 kbit/s WMA Purchase: no (DRM-free MP3 in some geographical areas); Subscription: Yes, PlaysForSure.[19] Napster subscription-Entire song, unlimited; Free Napster-Entire song; Napster MP3 Store-30 seconds. 7 days Hi-res. album art included
Optus Music Store X songs Australia MP3 - platform independent 250, and 320 kbit/s MP3 No 30 seconds None
PayPlay.FM 1,900,000 songs[20] United States MP3 - Platform Independent, WMA - Windows 98 or higher; Windows Media Player 9 or higher 192 kbit/s MP3 or 192 kbit/s WMA (DRM) per user choice No[21] 30 seconds None 25 Free songs + 1 daily bonus[22]
PlayNow 4,000,000 Worldwide (selected countries) Windows and Mac 320 kbit/s MP3 No 30 seconds None Dual download that allows two downloads of each song (to a PC and to a SonyEricsson phone)
Puretracks 3,000,000 songs[23] United States and Canada[24] Windows 98 or higher; Windows Media Player 9 or higher[24] 192 kbit/s MP3,[25] WMA[24] Partial, PlaysForSure for majority and none for 50,000 songs[26] 30 seconds None
Rhapsody 6,000,000 songs[27] United States[28] Windows 98 or later, Mac OS X, Linux[28] 128, 160, and 192 kbit/s (depending on subscription) WMA, or 256 kbit/s MP3 Partial, PlaysForSure for WMA Tracks[29], has DRM-free MP3s[30] 30 seconds 14 days 25 Free streams a month[29]
Rhino Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Music Group 2,000 artists {{citation}}: Empty citation (help) FLAC, WMA, and Apple Lossless
Sanity
Vodafone Music 1,000,000 songs Europe, Africa and Australasia[1] Windows 98 or later 128 kbit/s WMA PC, 48 kbit/s AAC enhanced Mobile Yes, WMA for PC, OMA DRM for mobile. 30 seconds None Dual download to mobile and PC, Europe offers java mobile client as well
Walmart Music 1,000,000 songs United States[31] Windows 98 or above 256 kbit/s MP3 No, since Feb. 2008[32] 30 seconds None
Yahoo! Music Unlimited (Will be discontinued mid-2008; existing subscribers being migrated to Real Rhapsody)[33] 2,000,000 songs[34] United States Windows XP or above, IE 6.0 or above, MusicMatch JukeBox[35] 160 kbit/s WMA[34] Yes, PlaysForSure[34] 30 seconds 7 days Yahoo Music store, Streaming Radio
Zune Marketplace 5,000,000 songs[36] United States[37] Windows XP or higher[38] 192 kbit/s WMA;[39] 256, and 320 kbit/s MP3[40] Partial, does not support PlaysForSure, 30 Seconds ZunePass 14 day trial Podcasts, Music Videos, TV Shows, Movies, Movie Rentals, Movie Trailers, Zune HD apps, Games, Channels, Keep 10 Songs Every Month
Site Selection (approximately) Geographic restrictions Platform Format DRM Preview Trial Other

See also

Notes and references

  1. ^ a b "Vodafone Music".
  2. ^ "DROPme > never miss a beat". Retrieved 2008-06-30.
  3. ^ Digital Music Stores Compared
  4. ^ "7digital launches iTunes price war - iPod-iPhone - Macworld UK". Retrieved 2007-12-13.
  5. ^ "Section 13 of Terms and Conditions". Retrieved 2008-06-21.
  6. ^ a b http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/dmusic/help/amd.html/ref=dm_gs_amd
  7. ^ Arrington, Michael (2007-12-19). "Amazon Helping To Change The Business Of Music". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2007-12-26. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  8. ^ Cheng, Jacqui (2007-03-07). "Amie Street signs major artists to sell DRM-free music". ArsTechnica. Retrieved 2007-03-28. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  9. ^ "Visiting BuyMusic at Buy.com". Retrieved 2007-03-20.
  10. ^ a b c d "Visiting BuyMusic at Buy.com". Retrieved 2007-03-19.
  11. ^ a b c "Emusic Technical Help". Retrieved 2007-03-13.
  12. ^ "GoMusic: High quality DRM-free MP3 Downloads". Retrieved 2008-04-16.
  13. ^ "RIAA - Legal Music Sites". Retrieved 2008-11-11.
  14. ^ "iMesh.com". Retrieved 2008-11-11.
  15. ^ "iTunes Store". Retrieved 2007-03-12.
  16. ^ "iTunes Music Store". Retrieved 2007-03-12.
  17. ^ a b "Napster Home Page". Retrieved 2008-06-18.
  18. ^ "Napster Quick Help - System Requirements". Retrieved 2008-05-14.
  19. ^ a b "MP3 Downloads". Retrieved 2008-06-18.
  20. ^ "PayPlay.FM website". Retrieved 2008-06-01.
  21. ^ "PayPlay.FM Starts Selling 1,300,000 Tracks of DRM-Free Music". Retrieved 2007-05-29.
  22. ^ "PayPlay.FM Help". Retrieved 2007-08-17.
  23. ^ "Puretracks - Puretracks Music Store". Retrieved 2009-05-31.
  24. ^ a b c "Puretracks 2.0". Retrieved 2007-03-19.
  25. ^ "Puretracks.com v2.03 - MP3". Retrieved 2008-05-29.
  26. ^ Nowak, Peter (2007-02-27). "Puretracks takes lead in rights fight". Financial Post. Retrieved 2007-03-13.
  27. ^ "Rhapsody — Five Million Songs in Your Pocket". Retrieved 2008-07-25.
  28. ^ a b "Rhapsody Online Help". Retrieved 2007-03-13.
  29. ^ a b "Rhapsody FAQ". Retrieved 2007-03-13.
  30. ^ "Rhapsody Teams with Universal Music Group for DRM-Free Music Test". Retrieved 2008-02-04.
  31. ^ "Walmart Music Downloads Questions". Retrieved 2007-03-19.
  32. ^ "Wal-Mart Music Downloads Help". Retrieved 2008-06-22.
  33. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions - Music". Retrieved 2008-06-30.
  34. ^ a b c "Yahoo Music Unlimited". Retrieved 2007-10-16.
  35. ^ "MMJB User Guide V3" (PDF). Retrieved 2007-03-20.
  36. ^ "Microsoft Announces the Expansion of the Zune Entertainment Service". Retrieved 2009-06-07.
  37. ^ "Zune FAQs:Sign Up". Retrieved 2007-03-13.
  38. ^ "Zune Software Release Notes". Retrieved 2007-03-13.
  39. ^ "Zune Marketplace Review by CNET". Retrieved 2007-03-20.
  40. ^ "Zune Forums". Retrieved 2010-01-12.
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