Amazon unveils new MP3 store
Posted
Sep 25 2007, 04:02 PM
by
Kim Peterson
Finally, a major retailer figures it out and unveils a music store specializing in MP3s. That's the song format that's blissfully free from those burdensome digital rights restrictions favored by Apple and other companies. You can play MP3s on just about any digital music player or computer. You could make as many CDs of them as you want. You can make copies of them with no problem.
In short, you can do all the things you're supposed to be able to do when you legitimately buy a song. And the music industry is 100% to blame for how screwed up things have become. Shellshocked by the unprecedented file-trading that took place when songs went digital, record labels went on a lawsuit bonanza while putting every song they could into a virtual lockdown (or, as the industry likes to say, managing the song's "rights").
Obviously, Amazon holds a lot of sway with record companies to be able to begin tearing down those walls. And give eMusic credit for doing this too (though I wonder about that company's fate now). Amazon's store only has 2 million songs by 180,000 artists. Some big names are there, such as Kanye West, Pink Floyd and Radiohead, and I imagine the labels that haven't signed on will be closely watching to see how the store fares.
Songs cost from 89 cents to 99 cents and most albums seem to cost between $6 and $10. Some observers are saying that Amazon is no iTunes. But considering all the limitations on songs sold at the iTunes Music Store, I think that's a good thing.
Amazon shares finished the day up nearly 1% at $93.48. A year ago the stock was in the low $30s.
