Amazon DRM-Free Music Store Goes Beta

LowSNR writes "Amazon this morning moved their DRM-free music store into open beta. According to the release, 'Since all our digital music downloads are DRM-free, you can play them on anything that plays mp3s including PCs, Macs(tm), iPods(tm), Zunes(tm), Zens(tm), iPhones(tm), RAZRs(tm), and BlackBerrys. Plus, our Amazon MP3 Downloader application makes it easy to add your downloads to iTunes(tm) and Windows Media Player(tm), so you can sync up your devices or burn your music to CD hassle-free.' Not to mention Linux." Of course, without DRM few of the major labels play with them.

Comments

True, however ...

[eldavojohn]

Of course, without DRM few of the major labels play with them. That may be true but why not view this as a way to stick it to iTunes and other music services? Everyone on this site has been complaining about wanting an alternative way to get DRM free music so they can stop paying money to a broken, defective by design system known as DRM. Now put your money where your mouth is and rid yourself of iTunes. The music selection may not be as great but if everyone moves, you can make a difference. Not to mention this is probably the best thing to happen to unsigned artists looking to make some quick easy cash even though it may not be much.

Re:True, however ...

[EggyToast]

I believe he means non-iPod, and a player that actually has good features. Showing up as a mass storage device is nice, but if the only thing it lets you do is simply copy files back & forth, that means that *all* of the organization is handled by the player. Thus, the interface and features are of the utmost importance. Or they need to support some music library tool that's available for Linux. Or the user has to have very basic portable music needs.

Decent Selection

[Scootin159]

Maybe I'm not 'mainstream' in what I listen to, but I just checked, and the first 6 albums I could think of were all available there. I really hope this will take off, and then the 'major' music labels will soon feel the threat if they don't offer DRM-free.

Top 100

[markg11cdn]

The Top 100 tracks http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/dmusic/digital-music-track are $0.89 each. I only had to go down to #17 to find one that I recognize (but wouldn't buy) - Blondie/Heart of Glass. A few steps down at #21 I found one to buy, Floyd/Comfortably Numb. All the other tracks (not top-100) on the double album are $0.99 or you can get all 26 tracks for $8.99. All 256 kbps non-drm'd files. This is how music buying should have been from day one.

Wine

[ShedPlant]

The Amazon MP3 Downloader installs and (seems to) run fine on Linux with wine. However, since I can't provide a USA billing address, I haven't been able to purchase an album and see if it downloads.

Still, cool :) . I expect they'll bring this to Amazon worldwide soon.

This works outside the US

[Gossi]

Yep, it says US only, but I'm in the UK and I just purchased a song. When you are asked to confirm your billing address, put in a dummy US address. I used this:

"
1 Infinite Loop
New York
Cupertino, CA 95014
"

(Apple's US headquarters address - it's valid).

When asked for your phone number, put in your full international dialing number.

Result? It works. Raw MP3 downloads. Legal. I'm using a Mac, and it works fine with Firefox, Safari and with my iPod and on iTunes.

Re:This works outside the US

[Petrushka]

Violating terms of service is not illegal. It merely gives the other party grounds for voiding the contract (and/or litigation, if it's serious enough to make it worthwhile ... and you're both in the same country).

Tag this...

[creativeHavoc]

Tag this effectivebydesign maybe?