These sites are not as popular and have smaller song collections than those found on the first page. While they are still reputable, you will have better luck finding a song with one of the large sites and only going to these sites when necessary.
Puretracks
On the surface, Puretracks seems like most of the other music stores. However, it offers WMA files at a slightly higher bit rate of 192kbps, instead of the 128kbps files others offer. Amazingly, the cost is not any higher--starting at $0.99 per track. Although its song catalog is smaller than some, slightly over one million tracks, it does offer most of the major recording companies and some of the independents.
One of the major drawbacks to Puretracks is that no clear statement of usage rights is listed. They do have symbols next to albums that are burnable and transferable to portable devices, they do not state what limits are set. Since they also do not state an unlimited amount, it must be assumed that some limits exist. The symbols also suggest that not all tracks can be burned to CDs or transferred to MP3 players. Thus, anyone purchasing from Puretracks needs to be observant to avoid any nasty surprises after purchasing. Puretracks is only a store, not a music player and is not accessible to Macintosh users.
Passalong and SongTouch
Passalong and SongTouch seem like two separate companies, but they are too similar in their policies not to be connected somehow. The only difference in them is the content they offer. Passalong offers more of the mainstream artists while SongTouch offers only Christian music.
Both site allow you to purchase songs using the traditional method or with points. Points can be purchased on gift cards or earned by recommending songs to friends through 1Pass. Other than that feature, the two stores are much like the others. Tracks start at $0.99 and most come as 128kbps WMA files. However, they do offer a few MP3 files, which would be compatible with iTunes, but the store is not compatible with Macintosh computers. Songs are limited to four PC transfers and seven CD burns, but may be transferred to a limited number of portable devices.
Urge
URGE is Viacom's answer to music downloads. Individual's tracks start at $9.99 with album prices varying. They do have a subscription program, but do not state any discount for subscribers who choose to purchase albums or tracks.
URGE does not work on Macintosh computers and requires Windows users to upgrade their Media Player to version 11 in order to use it as well as a broadband internet connection. Music purchased is 128kbps WMA files. Transfer and burn limits vary depending on the artist and no general standards apply.
MusicGiants
MusicGiants is the store for music aficionados. They advertise high definition WMA downloads that they state are "equal to a CD." To compare, most sites offer 128kbps WMA files. MusicGiants offer "lossless" WMA files with much higher bitrates, some as high as 1100kbps. Of course, the higher quality comes at a higher price; the average download price for a complete album is just $15.29. This places it a bit higher than the average CD would in stores, which seems unreasonable since they do not have to pay packaging and processing fees.
Another drawback to this site is that they do not offer individual tracks for sale, even though they way they are set up they seem to. It is only after you attempt to add only one track of a CD to your cart to you see that it will not let you purchase it. Music purchased from MusicGiants can be transferred up to five different portable devices and is limited to seven burns. You shall be authorized to burn a play list up to seven times. Finally, you must be using Microsoft Explorer to access this site.
PayPlay.fm
PayPlay is integrated into the Windows Media Player, but files purchased through this site are compatible with most other players except for iTunes. They offer cheaper singles that start at only $0.77 per track and $7.77 per album, but have a very limited selection of only 850,000 tracks--almost all of which are from alternative bands.
Downloads may be transferred to an additional five computers and be burned to a CD, but they do not say if there is any burn limit on them. All downloads come as WMA files, but the site does not state what bit rate they are. One bright not about PayPlay is that they state they are working on getting MP3s available, which would then make them compatible with iTunes.
