05. Legal Digital Music Services

To keep up to speed with the most up-to-date legal digital music services on the internet, bookmark the page below from the Pro Music website.

Scroll down to view the websites available to UK users.

http://www.pro-music.org/musiconline/tracker-region-europe.htm

The following list outlines the best-known legal services in the UK, in alphabetical order.

Bignoisemusic

Oxfam-backed service powered by OD2. With 10% of sales going to charity, the site has supported the Sudan appeal. Music from all the major labels and many independents is delivered in the protected WMA format; the site launched in the UK in May 2004.

www.bignoisemusic.com

Bleep

Warp Records’ Bleep.com sells MP3 downloads from leading independent labels such as Domino, One Little Indian, Output, Ninja Tune and Warp itself, allowing access to the catalogues of artists such as Franz Ferdinand, Bjork, Roots Manuva and Aphex Twin. Since December Bleep have reported sales to the Official Download chart.

www.bleep.com

Connect

Sony’s own download service, which, integrated with their SonicStage music software sells music in its own ATRAC3 format. This means downloads will play on any compatible Sony device. Sample streams are also available. Connect launched in the UK with major and indie label content in July 2004.

www.connect-europe.com

Downlo@d at Woolworths.co.uk

Woolworths Group launched the site in September 2004 with partner companies Streets Online and Entertainment UK and a digital distributor DX3. The site features all active physical chart catalogue, integrates with the Woolworths website and delivers tracks in the protected WMA format.

www.woolworths.co.uk/download

HMV Digital

HMV’s revamped digital offering offers a choice of a monthly subscription or a la carte downloads. Content partners include all majors and many UK independents. Downloads are delivered in the protected WMA format.

www.hmv.co.uk/digital

iTunes Music Store

iTunes Music Store was launched in the UK in June 2004, after selling 70 million downloads in the US in 2003. Initial content partners included all the major labels, and its independent catalogue is growing.

The store is accessible via Apple’s free iTunes media player, which can be downloaded from the address below. Downloads are encoded in the AAC format and are compatible with the best-selling iPod; they cannot be played on WMA or standard MP3 players.

www.apple.com/uk/itunes

Powered by OD2, MSN’s repertoire includes all major record companies and many UK independents. Downloads are delivered in the protected WMA format. The service also integrates with SonicSelector, a plug-in that allows purchasing via Microsoft’s own media player.

http://entertainment.msn.co.uk/music

Relaunched as a legitimate service in May 2004, Napster 2.0 was the first of the leading US sites to launch in the UK.

It offers an ‘all-you-can-eat’ subscription service, where users gain unlimited downloads for a monthly subscription fee. Extra fees apply when burning to disc or transferring to a digital player though Napster Light allows access to free samples without subscription. Downloads are encoded in the popular WMA format.

www.napster.co.uk

Tesco Download

Launched in November 2004, Tesco were the first UK supermarket to launch a download service in the UK. Downloads are delivered in the protected WMA format.

www.tescodownloads.com