music business | Download War begins

Download War begins

Online retailer Play.com has declared war on iTunes by launching it’s new online music download service with downloads to be cheaper than to current number one online download service Apples’ iTunes.

Not only will Play.com offer single downloads up to 14p cheaper than iTunes, their mp3 files are also DRM (digital rights management) free. This means you can load these files on to any mp3 player where as files downloaded from iTunes could only be burnt to disc or used on iPods.

At the moment Play.com has signed a deal with major label EMI and a number of large independents, giving people access to artists such as Adele, the Arctic Monkeys and Kylie Minogue. Play are currently in talks with Universal, Sony BMG and Warner Music and hopes to sign deals with them soon.

Play.com are not the only ones for iTunes to worry about though, as Amazon are planning to release their download service soon. Amazon have already signed deals with all four of the major labels Warners, Sony BMG, EMI & Universal. But Play have made the first leap into the market and with the price reductions this can only be good for consumers.