Digital Trends

Oh, how time flies: It’s been three long years since Digital Trends last did a roundup of legal music download sites, and my, hasn’t the baby grown?

Some of the big names are still around (i.e. iTunes). Some of the smaller names that showed past potential have really developed (e.g. eMusic). A few have more have fallen by the wayside (we won’t mention any names). And, yes, as ever, there are also several new kids on the block (see: Amazon.com’s music store).

The upshot: We’re now in an era where everyone and their brother seem to have digital music featured on their site. And it’s all blown up in a way industry insiders had hoped, but no one really anticipated. Labels have their own music shops where tracks can be bought. Streaming downloads have become more important. Portable music players are now ubiquitous, after slimming down in size but seeing storage capacities grow, with video playback now a vital component on many models. Music on cell phones is also quite standard as features go today, with many handsets made to double as music players. In short, wherever you go, whatever you’re doing, you can take your music right there with you.

Helping illustrate just how prolific music’s online presence has become, remember, three years ago MySpace and Facebook were barely twinkles in their parents’ eyes. Now, they’re giants just starting to dip their toes into the record biz, either directly or indirectly, and act as vital showcases for so many bands, signed and unsigned alike.

One thing that hasn’t gone away, though, is the issue of digital rights management (DRM), or copy protection. However, the business is slowly but surely moving away from it, as services realize that offering DRM-free tracks is preferable to consumers, with even the mighty iTunes now offering some content completely free of this technology. Bands are further making tracks available for download – entire albums in the case of Radiohead – for next to nothing or pro bono in some cases, just to pull in an audience who will pay for more music.

Although the basics are much the same as they were in 2005, the playing field has definitely altered. Music downloads are a huge business now, and the potential for growth is just going to keep booming. Sure, record labels continue to moan about decreased CD sales and the fact that downloads don’t make up the difference. But more and more, digital downloads are the way most of us are now consuming music. Face it: The younger generation thinks in tracks, not albums, and given how much filler there’s been in the past, it’s a good mindset to have.

In fact, there are so many options for downloading music these days that searching for the right one can seem like wandering through a dense forest without a map. (Or, to offer a more modern analogy, a handheld GPS unit…) What follows isn’t a complete map, either; it’s simply a few signposts along the way, not to mention a look strictly at actual download services, not streaming song providers. The services we are talking about today include:

• Apple iTunes
• Napster
• Rhapsody
• Amazon.com music
• Wal-Mart
• eMusic
• Yahoo Music Unlimited

With all the variety available, remember: Only you know which digital music download option fits your lifestyle best. Still, it’s worth noting that, across the board, the amount of tracks each service offers is constantly increasing, depending on what new deals they’ve signed with individual labels. Take the figures here as a rough estimate – next week they could be well out of date, all for the positive. Additionally, many services offer special promotions that include free downloads, which vary from time to time, so check back often to see what’s in store.

Ready to get the party started? Let’s go! After all, picking the right music download service isn’t a song and dance…

*Disclaimer: all prices mention are USD.