Preferences should be the determining factor
With the explosion of legal music download sites on the Internet, it is a good idea to figure out which sites offer the best service for the money.
Many students own an MP3 player or an iPod and download their songs online instead of buying the whole album at a store.
“I don’t have to go to a music store to buy a CD. I get to pick exactly the songs I want instead of the full album,” said Scott Berger, 20, a sophomore history major.
While there are many sites available to download songs, iTunes currently dominates the market because of its simplicity, availability, compatibility and large collection.
The iTunes Store Web site features more than 6 million songs for 99 cents each, as well as 600 TV shows and 500 movies for a few dollars more.
“iTunes is easy to use and very accessible. A dollar for a song isn’t bad since it’s like $15 for a CD,” said Alex Bressler, 21, a senior humanities major.
While the iTunes Store may have a lot to offer, it may not be the best option for all students.
One alternative to iTunes is eMusic. There is a monthly subscription service available on its Web site with several different options, ranging from $10 a month for 30 songs to $20.00 a month for 75 songs.
The most a person can spend per song on eMusic is 33 cents, which is a third of a song on iTunes.
The files on eMusic are all in MP3 format, which allows transfer to an unlimited amount of computers and MP3 players, including iPods.
A drawback to eMusic is its library. It contains two million songs, which is a third of the iTunes selection.
Other sites, such as Napster and Yahoo! Music Jukebox, offer low subscription fees with the opportunity to download unlimited tracks, but come with a catch.
Unlimited downloads for less than $20 seems cheap, but the files are not compatible with the very popular iPod.
The music from these sites is rented and not purchased. A subscriber can download an unlimited amount during membership, but the files become inactive once the subscription is canceled.
Taste is the biggest factor when it comes to finding a place to purchase music online. People who prefer a bigger selection and iPod compatibility are probably best suited for iTunes.
People looking to save money, and without the need for a large selection, could consider eMusic.
Napster and Yahoo! Music Jukebox is worth looking at for
people interested in lots of music and don’t mind a long-term monthly commitment.
Contact Campus Press staff writer Cameron Naish at cameron.naish@colorado.edu
