Why Amazon MP3 won't kill iTunes
I downloaded my first batch of songs from Amazon UK's MP3 service last night. I was lured, like many others, by only paying £3 for the top albums (in my case Elbow and Grace Jones - others might prefer the latest offerings from Oasis and Coldplay, also available at £3).
I started filling up my basket with other best-of-2008 albums, but as the prices started rising towards £7 or £8 I hesitated. I checked iTunes: the albums I wanted were there, sometimes cheaper, and all in the iTunes Plus format (i.e. withough DRM restrictions). So I downloaded them from iTunes instead.
Why? Partly because I like Apple's choice of file format - AAC is much more modern than MP3, and theoretically an AAC file at 256kbps (from iTunes Plus) sounds better than an MP3 file at 256kbps (from Amazon). In practice, it would take some serious hi-fi kit to tell the difference (time to raid the What Hi-Fi? Sound And Vision stockroom?). But I like to know the quality is there.
I also like downloading songs directly to my iPhone - something that (thanks to Apple) you can only do if you use the iTunes Music Store.
But most of all I like the convenience of using iTunes software to buy, download and -crucially - transfer music to my iPod and iPhone. The massive success of the iPod is the reason that the iTunes Music Store is so successful - and that's why Amazon is going to struggle to challenge Apple's dominance of the MP3 market.
However, if they push down MP3 download prices in the meantime, I'll be happy.
You can read more of my thoughts on the my blog for Reuters, Can Anyone Stop The Dominance Of iTunes.
Or you can read more about the launch of the Amazon MP3 store here.
Comments
Penfold
4 years ago
I think the comment "most of all I like the convenience of using iTunes software to buy, download and -crucially - transfer music to my iPod and iPhone" is slightly redundant when the Amazon software will automatically add the tracks to your itunes library. Personally I'm happy to save myself the £6 pre album (ok maybe not on all albums) just for having to use my web browser rather than iTunes.
Massiv313
4 years ago
Fanboy
abooth202
4 years ago
I agree with Penfold, your comment, "But most of all I like the convenience of using iTunes software to buy, download and -crucially - transfer music to my iPod and iPhone." ...doesn't really make sense. Your right, iTunes does download things directly into your library, but so does the Amazon downloader. It's just a matter of shopping around for the non-DRM tracks, thats what I'll be doing. Check iTunes Plus and check Amazon MP3, whichever is cheapest, click 'buy'. I think the most important point to the introduction of the Amazon MP3 store in the UK, one which you fail to mention in your post, is that DRM-free media is becoming the common standard, which can only be a good thing!
Tom Dunmore
4 years ago
you're right - I am lazy. But I think most online music buyers are. That's why iTunes is in the position it's in, despite most tracks Apple sells being in low bit-rate and crippled by DRM. At least I'm not so lazy that I buy those tracks - if a album's not available on iTunes Plus I'll buy it on 7digital or Play. Or, now, Amazon. And yes, it's great that Amazon is in the market, and it's even better that DRM is disappearing. But there's a big desire in the music industry to destroy Apple's near monopoly on the market. And until someone produces a better combination of software and hardware, I don't think that's going to happen.
The_Corporal
4 years ago
Tom, I'm disappointed, as a journalist you must know it's a terribly bad show to start a sentence with And, let alone doing it twice. Yes, I am in work and bored to tears!
The_Corporal
4 years ago
It's interesting that DRM free tracks are becoming increasingly common. It seems at long last that music companies are at least stating to understand that the only people they are hurting with DRM are those who are buying the tracks legally.
Drunken Max
4 years ago
The good thing about the Amazon option is that the competition will drive the market to the benefit of the consumer, not the service provider's profits. It could impact on ipod numbers but then again, Apple should maybe open up to other song downloaders as well. Seperate the whole ipod / itunes umbilical cord
lubidog
4 years ago
That's the point-drive down costs. But I hope the artists aren't the ones to loose out, being a musician myself and incredibly poor! But I'm with Tom here, I just wanna download and go! The whole itunes/ipod thing is just so smooth. I'll stick with it.
rneild
21 weeks ago
Perhaps amazon aren't looking to dominate the market,they're a market follower and considering its just one of their many products they offer,its not doing too badly.I'm just saying...