Budget Amazon Download Service Takes on iTunes

Amazon’s foray into the world of digital delivery has been announced, but it isn’t without its problems.

On the face of it the store looks good: it offers budget downloads in MP3 format and with no DRM. Despite the small catalogue, and the fact that the service is still in Beta, it seems the service has a promising future. There are versions of Amazon’s downloader for both Windows and Mac owners. The lack of DRM protection on the downloaded files is a big plus for the service, especially since Apple insist on charging extra for non-DRM music.

Amazon is renowned for good customer service and a fair amount of ‘clout’ when it comes to its suppliers: no one else can offer the global coverage that the online-shopping giant does. The interesting thing is whether this clout will feedback to the record companies and, particularly, the Big 4 Cartel that dictates how much of the worldwide anti-piracy action is carried out.

Interestingly you can only buy from the service if you are in the US – band news for us in Europe or elsewhere that have a legitimate interest in using the music without any suggestion of the piracy that the music industry fears – and we wonder why this is. Is an Amazon policy or is it something foisted upon them by the Big Four? No doubt reviews will soon appear for the Amazon service, but until then, we’re simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.

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