Amazon Taking DRM-Free MP3s International in 2008

[MacRumors]

Amazon announced today that they would be rolling out their Amazon MP3 store internationally in 2008.

"We have received thousands of e-mails from Amazon customers around the world asking us when we will make Amazon MP3 available outside of the U.S. They can't wait to choose from the biggest selection of high-quality, low-priced DRM-free MP3 music downloads which play on virtually any music device they own today or will own in the future," said Bill Carr, Amazon.com Vice President of Digital Music. "We are excited to tell those customers today that Amazon MP3 is going international this year."

Amazon's MP3 store is presently the largest Digital Rights Management (DRM) Free selection of downloadable songs available for sale online. As of January, Amazon had managed to sign on all the major record labels to their service and will be launching a billion song giveaway during the Superbowl.

MP3s downloaded from the Amazon store are compatible with Apple's iTunes software as well as their iPods and iPhones. Amazon offers a list of bestsellers including a number of freely downloadable MP3 tracks.

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[Eidorian]

Just more options for us consumers.

I need to get an iPod/Phone now...

[sjbartnik]

The Amazon store is pretty good. The interface is obviously not nearly as good as iTunes but their little Downloader program that automatically puts the songs into iTunes works well.

I now do a little comparison shopping between the two stores. I prefer buying from iTunes but if the price is equal and the iTunes version has DRM while the Amazon doesn't, then Amazon gets the sale. Often though the Amazon price is below iTunes and often the iTunes option is not iTunes Plus, so it still has DRM and is only encoded at 128kpbs. In this case, Amazon is the obvious choice.

So Apple, it's about time to make the whole store DRM-free. I know that's not completely up to them. But in making the choice, DRM-free wins every time.

[superleccy]

Finally I get somewhere to buy songs from apart from iTunes! Hope the selection is good.

SL

[flopticalcube]

I thought the qtrax announcement was more interesting.

[skyrider007]

Great news!

[ltldrummerboy]

The only thing better about iTunes Store right now is the interface and usability. Apple makes it so darn easy to spend money. Good for consumers, though. Competition means better products/lower prices.

[Animaniac]

The AmazonMP3 store is many steps ahead of the iTunes store. MP3 is a more compatible and portable format than AAC, and Amazon encodes their MP3s using LAME in the -V0 setting, which is the "industry" standard. The term "industry" is being used loosely. Music pirates, who on a by-volume basis are essentially the industry, have long figured out that LAME -V0 is is the best format for storing and transfering music. Furthermore, listening tests have shown that LAME -V0 is indistinguishable from source material (which is also true for 256 kbps AAC but not 128 kbps AAC). Lastly, their entire catalog is offered without DRM, making music purchased from the Amazon store as "future-proof" as possible, i.e. portable, CD-transparent audio in the industry-standard format. On top of all that, they are often priced lower than iTunes.

Hands down, Amazon's offering provides the best possible consumer value. While Apple's leadership with the music labels created the environment in which a consumer-minded service like AmazonMP3 could be conceived, Apple's market dominance can only help them for so long against the retail juggernaut that is Amazon.

[Blue Velvet]

Originally Posted by Animaniac

Music pirates, who on a by-volume basis are essentially the industry, have long figured out that LAME -V0 is is the best format for storing and transfering music.

But not actually listening to it.

[Cassie]

Originally Posted by flopticalcube

I thought the qtrax announcement was more interesting.

Cool. March 18, I'll be all over that.

[grappler]

Too bad Apple got left out of this. I like 'em, but I just will not buy DRM'd music. Amazon is where I go for songs now; their selection is far better than iTunes Plus.

[uv23]

I can't stand the iTunes music store. It's slow as hell, the DRM-free selection is poor, and the search is abysmal. I will very very gladly use AMazon when it comes to Canada. Currently, I buy most of my music through bleep.

[happydude]

dude, apple, get the memo or be prepared to have iTMS obsolete . . .