Downloading music can be an inexpensive alternative to buying physical CDs, but navigating through the maze of music sites that provide downloads can be quite confusing. Different sites offer different terms and conditions, prices, song formats and quality.
Some stores, such as iTunes, Napster, RealOne Rhapsody, and Yahoo! Music Jukebox, require users to download special software before purchases can be made. While other stores, such as Puretracks, Buy.com, and Wal-Mart, allow you to purchase songs directly from their site and then import it into your preferred player. Some are compatible with Macintosh and iTunes, while others require Windows and Windows Media Player. Cost per track can vary from $0.77 to $0.99 or more, while album costs can run from as low as $7.49 to more than double that cost.
If you are looking to a good quality site to download music that will be compatible with your computer and your portable device, then continue reading. Some of the major stores are compared including iTunes, Napster, Yahoo! Music Jukebox, RealOne Rhapsody, Puretracks, Passalong, SongTouch, Urge, MusicGiants, PayPlay.fm, Buy.com, Wal-Mart, and eMusic. If you are wondering why AOL Music Now, Musicmatch Jukebox and MSN Music have been excluded, it is because they have either merged with one of the other companies listed here or stopped providing downloads.
Also, it should be noted that, unless stated otherwise, most of the music downloaded from these companies are not compatible with Macintosh computers, iTunes, or iPods unless they have been burned to a CD and then transferred into iPods. Finally, not all mp3 players are compatible with every website. Please check the individual sites guidelines or go to Microsoft's PlaysForSure website before purchasing music.
When most people think of downloading songs, they think of iTunes, it is the most popular online store for music downloads. However, it only works if you have an iPod and is not compatible with other mp3 players. It is also a great one-stop shop for downloadable TV shows, movies, music videos, audiobooks, podcasts, and music.
It features one of the largest song libraries with 3.5 million songs with an average price for music is $0.99 per song and $9.99 per album. Songs in iTunes are 185kbps MPEG-4 audio (AAC) files. This is a higher bit rate than most of the WMA files available for purchase, which makes the sound quality better. Purchased songs are limited to five authorized computers, seven CD burns, and five iPods. Videos cannot be burned to CDs or DVDs.
The major drawback to iTunes is that music purchased here can only be played on iPods and is not compatible to other mp3 players. Since no other store offers the most popular music in an iPod compatible format, this does not seem to hurt iTunes at all. It is also one of the few music stores that is compatible with both Windows and Macintosh.
What doesn't Amazon sell these days? It is no surprise that they have ventured into the world of mp3s. What is surprising is that many of their songs are only $.89 a piece and (for you Pepsi drinkers) you can collect those bottle caps and get free downloads. Ironically, Pepsi bottlecaps was what originally got me into iTunes, now they are converting me to Amazon.
Probably the best thing about Amazon is that it is capable of integrating its music with BOTH iTunes and Windows Media Player. So far, I have not seen any other site be able to do that.
Formerly the name for illegal downloads, Napster has transitioned into a legal downloads music store. Its three million song catalog is second only to iTunes but has the added bonus of allowing you to stream individual songs three times for free before purchasing. This "bonus" is only accessible to you if you register with them--which requires you to give your PayPal information or a credit card number and sign up for a free seven-day trial. Bypassing this is tricky and confusing, but can be done. If you do, you then find that you are limited to a thirty second-song preview.
You must download their player software in order to purchase songs, which is available as a plug-in for Windows Media player. Once the software is installed, you are then required to sign up and install quite a few add-ons and cookies just to browse. Songs start at $0.99 each. Music files that are downloaded are either 128kbps or 192kbps WMA files. You must have Windows to use Napster, as it is not compatible with Macintosh computers. You can access your Napster subscription account on up to three PCs with unlimited burns and portable device transfers.
Yahoo! Music Unlimited(Formerly Musicmatch Jukebox)
Yahoo! Music combined with Musicmatch Jukebox to form Yahoo! Music Jukebox. Although Musicmatch Jukebox was able to interface with iPods, Yahoo! Music Jukebox is not. It is also not compatible with any Macintosh computers, but state that they hope to change this in the future. They do offer a two million song catalog, which is larger than most but still well behind iTunes and Napster.
Subscription tracks are provided to you in Windows Media format (WMA) at near-CD-quality 192kbps stereo. This is a higher bit-rate than what some of the other stores offer. They can be enjoyed on Windows Media devices and subscription-compatible portable players. To download music, you must install the Yahoo! Music Jukebox player. Yahoo! offers a free version as well as a "plus" version that offers more features but costs $19.99. Yahoo! is the only store that sells a version of its music player. Yahoo! Offers you access to music in two different ways. First, you can purchase the songs individually for $0.99 per song. If you opt to subscribe to one of their unlimited music services, the price per track drops to $0.79.
RealOne Rhapsody promotes its streaming music more than its music downloads, but still worthy of listing here. In order to purchase or listen to any of the music offered, however, you must first download their software. Tracks start at $0.99 each, although members get a ten percent discount. It is unclear how large of a song catalog that Rhapsody offers, all it is willing to say is "millions."
My biggest issue with Rhapsody is its claims that "you may use the iPod to play tracks purchased on Rhapsody." Only if you dig deeper into the information provided in the Rhapsody Knowledge Base will you discover that this is incorrect. According to them, they do "not support the transfer of tracks purchased from Rhapsody" to your iPod. Also, all purchased songs are 128kbps WMA files, and therefore not readable by iTunes. What they meant is you can use the Rhapsody software to transfer your own imported mp3 and AAC files to your iPod, not the tracks purchased from Rhapsody. However, the directions to do this are quite complex and should only be attempted by advanced users. Also, Rhapsody software only works with Windows.
Other than that, Rhapsody seems to be comparable to most of the other music stores. One of the few differences is that it allows nonmembers to sample twenty-five tracks each month, a big difference from the thirty seconds sample most other stores offer but far less than what Napster offers.
Wal-Mart also offers music downloads on its website. As always, Wal-Mart offers these songs at a lower price than its competitors--beginning at $0.88 per song and $9.44 per album. While their song catalog is smaller than some of the other stores, about one million, it does include some of the most popular artists. Also, unlike BuyMusic, Wal-Mart actually means what it says. Most of the songs were only $0.88 with albums being only $9.44. When comparing prices between BuyMusic and Wal-Mart, Wal-Mart was cheaper on both new releases and most popular albums.
All songs are 128kbps WMA files, making them incompatible with iTunes and iPods. They also restrict the songs to three PCs and ten burns. Of course, you must use Internet Explorer to access the site and it is not Macintosh friendly.
It is hard to give an unbiased assessment of Buy.com after looking at it because it clearly engages in unclear advertising. In big bold letters, it promises $0.79 songs and $7.95 albums. Yet, this seems to be the exception rather than the rule. Most tracks are the standard price of $0.99. Often times, only one track in an album would be listed at the $0.79 price while the others were listed at $0.99. Furthermore, it was common to see no price advantage to purchasing the songs individually than purchasing the entire album.
As with many of the other stores, BuyMusic songs are 128kbps WMA files, making them incompatible with both Macintosh computers and iPods. This is one of the few sites that is only a store, so you will need Windows Media Player or similar program to play the files. Their song catalog is slightly over one million, making it lacking even in that comparison. The usage and license restrictions on songs vary and not very clear. The usage and license guidelines stated to look for icons to find out how many times you can burn and transfer the songs, but the icons were not visible on some of the more popular songs listed. In another section of their site, they listed the "standard" usage being up to three computers, unlimited transfers and ten burns. However, one should not assume that this will apply to all songs purchased.
You may then transfer music files and backup license files to up to two (2) additional personal computers ("Secondary Computers") (but without rights to further transfer or copy from those Secondary Computers). You may play music an unlimited number of times on your primary and secondary computers. You shall be entitled to (A) burn (only from your Primary Computer) Digital Downloads solely for personal, non-commercial use up to ten (10) times, and (B) export Digital Downloads (solely from the Primary Computer) an unlimited number of times to a Portable Device (as defined below).
EMusic
EMusic offers the cheapest individual tracks, but there is a catch. They only offer them through a monthly subscription plan. The lowest plan costs $9.99 a month and gives you thirty downloads each month. They offer two other plans, fifty songs for $14.99 and seventy-five songs for $19.99 If you discover that you want thirty-one songs one month, you will be required to upgrade to the next plan or wait because they do not allow tracks to be purchased individually. Also, unused downloads do not carry over to the next billing month.
EMusic advertises over two million tracks, but they are mostly from obscure artists with very few popular ones. All songs are offered as either 128kbps mp3s or VBR (192Kbps base) mp3s with no limitations. You can burn them as often as you want. One reason that a person might want to check out eMusic is their free trial, which will give you twenty-five songs that you get to keep even if you decide not to subscribe.
You will need to install the eMusic Download Manager before making any purchases. However, once purchased, songs should be compatible with iTunes and iPods. EMusic is also one of the few companies listed here besides iTunes that is Macintosh friendly.
