Music Downloads

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Do the terms DRM, AAC, MP3 and bitrate leave you completely confused? Here's a quick guide to all the technical jargon. Learn more

music downloads

	Amazon.com Now that Amazon has become the first store to sell DRM-free MP3s from all 4 major music labels (Sony BMG, Universal, EMI and Warner), there is no reason anybody needs to continue purchasing DRM-laden downloads from anywhere else. DRM (Digital Rights Management) is a form of copy protection that places restrictions on the number of copies you can make of your download and how many computers you can play them on. The advantage of purchasing MP3s (vs. Napster's WMAs or iTunes' AACs) is that the MP3 is a universal format that can be played on just about every digital player out there (including iPods). Amazon will automatically download your purchased songs to your iTunes or Windows Media Player library. Another bonus: most of the top 100 tracks sell for $.89. Price: $.89-$.99 per song DRM: No Watermark: Some songs have a watermark that identify them as having been purchased at Amazon, but no personal information is watermarked. Format: 256 kbps MP3 Works with iPods?: Yes
	eMusic If you're a mainstream Top 40 person, you won't find much here, but indie music fans have a lot to love about this site, which features over 3.5 million songs from thousands of indie labels. Unlike Amazon or iTunes, which both have an a la carte purchasing system, you can't purchase one track at a time at eMusic. Instead it's $9.99 for 30 DRM-free MP3 downloads per month -- that's about $.33 per track. Make sure you use up all 30 downloads each month, because those credits won't rollover to the next month. Price: $.33 or less per song DRM: No Watermark: Yes Format: 192 kbps MP3 Works with iPods?: Yes
	iTunes Most of the music sold on iTunes utilizes DRM - songs can only be played on up to 5 computers, songs only play on iPods/iPhones, not other brands of portable players and there is a limit of 7 CD burns per album or playlist. For the same price of $.99 per song, Apple also sells a selection of DRM-free songs, designated as "iTunes Plus" songs. Unlike MP3s, which can be played on any digital music player, iTunes' DRM-free songs are AACs, a format that is compatible with many, but not all, players. Windows Media Player, for example, will not work with iTunes Plus songs. iTunes Plus carries songs from major label EMI as well as many indie labels. Price: $.99 per song DRM: Yes (iTunes); No (iTunes Plus). Watermark: Yes. Your iTunes username and email are watermarked on each iTunes Plus download. Format: 128 kbps AAC with DRM (iTunes); 256 kbps AAC DRM-free (iTunes Plus) Works with iPods?: Yes
	Walmart Walmart sells DRM-free MP3s, but only from 2 of the 4 major labels - EMI and Universal. Walmart's online store currently only works on PCs, not Macs and it doesn't carry anything with explicit lyrics. Price: $.94 per song DRM: No Format: 256 kbps MP3 Works with iPods?: Yes
	Zune Marketplace Most of the songs sold at the Zune Marketplace are designed to be used with Microsoft's Zune player. Zune is Microsoft's answer to the iPod. Major differences include: It's bigger than an iPod and it has a bigger video screen. It also has FM radio (iPod does not) and a wireless capability that allows you to share music (on a very limited basis) with other Zune users. Unlike iPods, which only allow you to purchase your music a la carte, Zune Players allow you to purchase a la carte music and use their music subscription service which give you unlimited access to their entire music library for a monthly fee. Most of the a la carte songs at the Zune Marketplace have DRM and aren't compatible with iTunes/iPod/iPhone because they are in an incompatible WMA format that iPods don't recognize, but the marketplace does sell about 1 million DRM-free MP3 songs that will work with iTunes/iPod/iPhone. To use the Zune Marketplace, however, you are required to purchase Microsoft Points ($5 per 400 points) and then use the points to pay for songs. Price: $.99 or more per song DRM: Yes (2 million WMA songs); No (1 million MP3 songs) Format: WMA and MP3 Watermark: No Works with iPods?: Only the MP3s work with iPods.