AOL: Amazon Who?

theodp writes "America Online said that it is now selling DVDs and CDs directly as part of its push into digital music, ending a temporary link it had with Amazon.com until it was able to do so itself. The step to sell physical CDs and DVDs is part of AOL's efforts to get a bigger share of the digital music pie to offset shrinkage in its dial-up Internet service and the slump in ad spending. AOL plans to build on its music offerings, which now include online music subscription service MusicNet, with a digital music store that will let users burn as many songs to CDs as they want."

Comments

And all this...

[Anonymous Coward]

...from the guys that brought you Gnutella!

rc55.com

Now what?

[nolife]

I'd imagine that even the newest of AOL users would still be able to type in www.amazon.com in thier web browser. I assume AOL will have some type of in your face promotion for this online but unless they can undercut Amazon and the other thousand or so places to by music online on the selection you want, they will just be another place to price check before buying.

Re:Now what?

[mrpuffypants]

And now that it's legal to show your own ads over another website what's to prevent AOL from popping up a window and saying:

Whoa! Where do you think you're going?
Click here to buy music from AOL!

I think that AOL is a bigger competitor to Apple's iTMS than Microsoft's new stuff. While Microsoft always tends to include "cool" new features in each successive release of Windows that doesn't mean that people will use it. Also, if they push it through the OS then I'd jump on it with the Sherman Antitrust Act in a heartbeat.

AOL users are already used to getting features incrementally, but I get the feeling with its userbase that ACTIVELY uses the features they include they could have great success with this service.

I say bring 'em on; just like in the Brick 'n Mortar world there should be multiple CD stores on the Internet

Biggest distributor of CD's maybe, but..

[msgmonkey]

it does n't mean anything because they're just distributing the same CD.

There's quite a bit of difference between automated labeling of a single pre-packaged product such as the AOL CD and an order fullfilment process. Infact the only common denominator is that just happen to be CD's, there really is n't much overlap here.

Re:Will AOL become the Microsoft of the internet ?

[Lord Kholdan]

Sheesh! What has GPL got to do with being an ISP? Nothing!

Even if you follow up the principles of free software movement doesn't make you a GPL ISP. What's next? GPL ice cream?

GPL is a software licence, don't try to make it into something it's not suited for.

Sad news when AOL has to be the innovator

[heironymouscoward]

The music industry is really in dire straits when AOL can take the lead in selling music. But it is a good move, and probably good for consumers. selling music on disc and as downloads makes sense. I suspect we are seeing the slow but real migration of music distribution from offline retail to online retail. When Walmart start selling tracks you know it's finally happened.
The more companies do this, the more competition and the better the choice for the consumer. If there is one single way to eliminate those pesky P2P people, this is it.
Oh, and AOL, while you're at it, please start planning to sell TV series and movies the same way.