Music Downloads

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 Downloading music has become extremely popular in the UK, but it can still be pretty confusing. There are some important differences between the major providers, so how do you decide which provider is right for you?

Here are the major points to consider when looking at what each download service will offer you:

• Do they have the music I want?
• How much does it cost to permanently download a track?
• Do they offer a subscription service or streaming?
• What file format do they use?
• Will downloaded tracks be compatible with my portable player?
• Are the downloaded tracks protected by DRM?

How many different music download providers are there?

The best known providers of mainstream music downloads in the UK are Apple iTunes and Napster. There are many other download sites, including Virgin Digital and HMV Digital (both powered by MusicNet). On Demand Distribution (OD2) powers several download sites including Oxfam Music and MSN Music UK.

How much music is available online?

All the major providers listed above have extensive catalogues (generally over 2 million tracks). To see if they have the music you want, you can go the sites and search for music without registering or downloading any software. The Napster search facility is pretty limited without downloading their software though.

I searched for 5 randomly selected old and new tracks and found them on all of the major sites. (They were ‘Acceptable in the 80s' by Calvin Harris, ‘Time after Time' by Eva Cassidy, ‘Song 2' by Blur, ‘Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend' by Marilyn Monroe and ‘Stan' by Eminem.)

However, you will probably come across the odd track which you can't find for download anywhere - the obvious example being anything by The Beatles (their back catalogue is not currently (May 2007) available on download).

There are some smaller download sites that cater to more specialised tastes, which frequently offer free downloads.

How much do music downloads cost?

One-off track downloads cost around 79-99p. All the tracks listed above cost 79p from all providers with the following exceptions:

All Oxfam tracks cost 99p, with 10p in every pound going to charity. The Calvin Harris track cost 89p with Virgin and HMV.

The cost of downloading a whole album is pretty variable, typically being 7-8 pounds for a current top 40 album.

What file formats do online music stores use?

Most download sites (including Napster, Virgin, HMV and OD2) provide downloads in WMA format. These can be played on most computers with many media players, most commonly Windows Media Player. The major limitation to WMA files is that they are not compatible with iPods.

iTunes provides downloads in AAC format. Because they are encrypted with Apple's FairPlay technology, they are only playable on iPods and a couple of new Motorola phones. However, you can play iTunes music on any computer, provided you have iTunes software or Quicktime installed.

How is the downloaded music protected?

Most downloaded music is currently protected by DRM (Digital Rights Management). This limits what you can do with a track once you have downloaded it. Generally there will be limits on the number of times you can burn a track to CD or transfer to a portable player.

DRM protection is controversial and has been criticised by many prominent organisations and individuals. Therefore there is a current trend away from the use of DRM. A site called eMusic provides MP3 files with no DRM restrictions, and has become extremely popular despite its selective range of music. Most of its contracts are with independent labels, as the major record companies are reluctant to release their music without DRM.

However, in May 2007 Apple announced it would start to sell EMI music without DRM protection, and at a higher quality, at a slightly increased price.

Can I stream music online?

Some of the OD2-powered sites offer the option of streaming a track (ie. playing it once) for 1p. You can buy a certain amount of credit, and use it for a combination of streaming and purchasing tracks.

What is an online music subscription service?

While all the services allow you to download tracks on a one-off basis, Napster, Virgin and HMV also provide subscription services. If you pay 9.99 a month, you can play any track in Napster's collection, and download it to your computer. However, you cannot burn the tracks to CD or transfer them to a portable player. They offer a 7-day free trial which is easy to cancel at the end.

If you cancel your subscription, you will no longer be able to access the tracks you downloaded. If you pay 14.99 a month, you can transfer as many tracks as you like to a portable player. Virgin and HMV offer very similar subscription services.

So which online music provider should I go with?

If you have an iPod, it is probably sensible to go with iTunes, as most other sites only offer iPod-incompatible WMA files. If you have another kind of portable music player, you should probably avoid iTunes.

You then need to decide whether to go for a subscription service. This is probably the best option if you are a very keen music fan, or frequently listen to a varied selection of music.