Comparison of digital music stores
Appearance
For streaming services, see list of online music databases.
The following table lists online music stores that carry a selection of songs by many record labels and artists. The stores listed below access passive databases and require access through a computer or some allow access and downloads through a mobile phone.[1][2] Only stores that have 1 million songs or will have 1 million songs soon[original research?] and offer a wide general selection of music are listed below.[3]
Store | Selection (approximately) | Geographic restrictions | Platform | Format | DRM | Preview | Trial | Download Again/Locker | Other |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
7digital | +11,000,000 songs[4] | 16 countries across Europe and North America[5] | Platform Independent for MP3 songs | 192, and 320 kbit/s MP3; 192, and 320 kbit/s AAC; 192 kbit/s WMA; FLAC (for a few albums) | No | 30 seconds | None | Yes | Podcasting; charts; videos; trailers; audiobooks |
Addictech | 5,000+ songs[6] | None | Platform Independent | 192, and 320 kbit/s MP3; FLAC; and WAV | No | 60 seconds | None | Charts of music | |
Amazon MP3 | 18,187,479 songs[7] | United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria, Japan | Platform independent for individual tracks and browsing the store, Amazon MP3 Downloader is required for downloading albums (Windows 98 or later, Mac OS X or Linux)[8] | 256 kbit/s VBR MP3 | No | 30 seconds | None | Yes | Amazon MP3 Downloader integrates with iTunes and Windows Media Player[8] |
Arkade[9] | 12,000+ Tracks 8,500+ Artists | None | Platform Independent | MP3 | No | Controlled by user | Free trial site | Independent artists. Multi-currency support. Cover versions support | |
artistxite[10] | +11,000,000 songs | Some | Platform Independent | MP3, AAC | No | 30 seconds | None | Yes | Stylemixer allows users to find new music by combining music styles. Editorial content includes album reviews and music specials |
Audimated | +10,000 songs | None (available worldwide) | Platform Independent | MP3 | No | Free to join. | Full stream available. | Users can earn a commission by sharing their favorite music. | |
Bandcamp | 2,500,000 songs | None | Platform Independent | MP3, AAC, Ogg Vorbis, Apple Lossless, FLAC, | No | Full | None | ||
Beatport | +2,000,000 songs | Varies by track[11] | Platform independent | MP3, AAC, WAV | No | 120 seconds | None | HTML 5, Waveform Display, Key Display | |
BuyMusic | 1,000,000 songs[12] | United States[13] | Windows 98 or above, IE 5.01 or above[13] | 128, and 256 kbit/s WMA[13] | Yes, PlaysForSure[13] | Unknown | None | ||
CDBaby | 3,000,000+ songs[14] | None? | Platform independent | MP3 200 kbit/s VBR | No | 30 seconds | None | Full albums only | |
Classical Archives | 620,000+ songs, 7,800+ composers, 27,000+ artists, 120+ labels | Worldwide for most tracks, some tracks are only available in the United States and Canada | Platform independent (Current browser versions preferred) | 320 kbit/s MP3, 256 kbit/s MP3, 192 kbit/s MP3, MIDI | No | 60 seconds | 14 days | Stream WMA, download MP3 and MIDI, free Music also available (limits per day) | |
Digital-Tunes | None | Platform Independent | 320 kbit/s MP3; FLAC; and WAV | No | 60 seconds | None | DJ charts; stream | ||
Discogs | 404,000+ releases[15] | None | Platform Independent | 192, and 320 kbit/s MP3; 192, and WAV | No | 130 seconds | None | Online music cataloging database; community; buys and sells used records | |
eBay Digital Music Center | US and Canada only | Platform Independent | 320 kbit/s MP3 | No | 60 seconds | None | Auctioning, buy and sell | ||
eMusic | 13,000,000 tracks[16] | United States, Canada, member states of the European Union, Norway and Switzerland[17] | Windows 98 or later; Linux; Mac OS 9/X[18] | 256 kbit/s VBR MP3, older tracks: 192 kbit/s VBR MP3[18] | No | 30 seconds[18] | 25 downloads | Download concerts, and audiobooks | |
Fairsharemusic | 16,000,000+ | 16 countries across Europe and North America | Platform Independent for MP3 songs | 192, and 320 kbit/s MP3; 192, and 320 kbit/s AAC; 192 kbit/s WMA; FLAC (for a few albums) | No | 30-60 seconds | None | Yes | From every download half the profit goes to the charity of your choice[19] |
GoMusic | 2,650,000 songs[20] | None | Platform independent | 192 kbit/s MP3 | No | 30 seconds | None | Soundtracks, audiobooks, and charts | |
HDtracks | none | Platform Independent | 320 kbit/s MP3, FLAC, AIFF | No | 30 seconds | None | High quality audiophile tracks, some binaural. | ||
HMV | UK | Platform independent | 256 kbit/s to 320 kbit/s MP3 | No | Unknown | None | |||
immergent.com | ~8,000,000 songs | USA | Platform independent | up to 320 kbit/s MP3 | No | 30 seconds | None | Charts, Rating, user profiles, blog, chat, social networking features | |
iMesh[21] | 4,000,000 pay-for songs, 15,000,000 free songs[22] | United States, Canada | XP or Vista with Windows Media Player 10 or later. | 320 kbit/s or 256 kbit/s MP3, 128 kbit/s WMA and various depending upon user shared content. | Partial, PlaysForSure WMA for subscriptions, 320 kbit/s or 256 kbit/s MP3 for purchases, user shared content (free) may vary. | 30 seconds | 14 days from first premium download. | Artist discovery; Staff created playlists; soundtracks; online community. | |
INZU | 1,000,000 pay-for songs | Worldwide | Platform independent | No format restrictions, popular formats: MP3, WAV, AIF | No | Controlled by user | None | User generated content selling digital and physical goods. | |
iTunes Store | 14,000,000+ songs[23] | Some[24] | Mac OS X 10.4.11 or later; iOS; Windows XP Service Pack 2 or later. | 256 kbit/s VBR AAC | Partial, FairPlay is still in some countries, notably iTunes Japan. | 90 seconds[25] | None | Yes | Podcasting; charts; movie trailers; audiobooks; movies; TV Shows; Music Videos; iTunes U; iPod Games; iPhone/iPod Touch Apps; |
Jamendo | 210,000+ songs | None | Platform independent | MP3; Ogg Vorbis | No | Full | None | Yes | Free, under a Creative Commons license or Free Art License |
Juno / Juno Download | 1,000,000 songs? | Worldwide? | Platform independent? | 128 kbit/s MP3; 320 kbit/s MP3; WAV | No | 60 seconds | None | 192 mp3 (£0.99), 320 mp3 (£1.49), wav (£1.99). Discounts sometimes for whole release purchase. Only small 700x700 pixel front cover image supplied, not larger iTunes Cover Flow friendly 1500x1500 ones. | |
Magnatune | 10,000 songs | None | Platform independent | MP3 high quality VBR and 128 kbit/s, WAV, FLAC, AAC, OGG | No | Full albums at 128k | Free listening at 128k | Streaming and download memberships for unlimited listening/downloads (50/50 revenue split with artists); encourages the distribution of up to 3 copies of downloaded albums to friends; exclusive selection | |
Moozone | 6,300,000 songs | US only | Platform independent | MP3 320 kbit/s | No | 30 seconds | None | Online music storage (personal digital locker), social network | |
MAQAM | 10,000 songs | None | Platform Independent | MP3 320 kbit/s | No | 30-120 seconds | None | Specializes in Arabic, Middle Eastern, and North African Music | |
Napster | +12,000,000 songs[26] | United States, Canada (until Dec. 16, 2011), Germany, or United Kingdom[26] | Napster Web application (Windows/Mac/Linux), Internet Explorer 7.x (Recommended)
or Firefox 2.x, Flash Player 8+; Napster software application (Windows only): Windows XP/Vista; Internet Explorer 7.x (Recommended); Windows Media Player 10+.[27] |
Purchase: 128, and 256 kbit/s DRM-free MP3 (Canada - DRM WMA);[28] Subscription: 128, and 192 kbit/s WMA | Purchase: no (DRM-free MP3 in some geographical areas, DRM in Canada); Subscription: Yes, PlaysForSure.[28] | Napster subscription-Entire song, unlimited; Free Napster-Entire song; Napster MP3 Store-30 seconds. | 7 days | Hi-res. album art included | |
NewMusicFeeds.com | 2,500 songs | None | Platform independent | 320 kbit/s MP3; 24 Bit Wav | No | 30 Seconds | None | 90% payouts to artists. | |
Nimbit | 10,000+ Artists, 1,000,000+ Songs | None | Platform Independent | Most popular formats | No | 30 seconds | Free or Paid Account Sign-ups | Distribute digital, physical music, DVDs, merch, bundles, tickets, and more | |
Optus Music Store | Australia | MP3 - platform independent | 250, and 320 kbit/s MP3 | No | 30 seconds | None | |||
PayPlay.FM | 1,900,000 songs[29] | United States | MP3 - Platform Independent, WMA - Windows 98 or higher; Windows Media Player 9 or higher | 192 kbit/s MP3 or 192 kbit/s WMA (DRM) per user choice | No[30] | 30 seconds | None | No | |
PlayNow | 4,000,000 songs | Worldwide (selected countries) | Windows and Mac | 320 kbit/s MP3 | No | 30 seconds | None | Dual download that allows two downloads of each song (to a PC and to a SonyEricsson phone) | |
Puretracks | 3,000,000 songs[31] | United States and Canada[32] | Windows 98 or higher; Windows Media Player 9 or higher[32], Mac OS X | 192, and 320 kbit/s MP3, 192 WMA[32] | Partial, PlaysForSure for majority and none for 50,000 songs[33] | 30 seconds | None | ||
Qobuz | 2,500,000 songs | None | Platform Independent (Windows, Mac OS X, Linux) | 320 kbit/s, Lossless (44 kHz / 16 bits) or StudioMasters (96 kHz / 24 bits), many formats (MP3, ALAC, FLAC, WMA, AAC, OGG)[34] | No | 30 seconds | 4 free albums | Download, streaming, high-res. covers, PDF booklets, videos, news, podcasts, forum | |
Rhapsody | +10,000,000 songs [35] | United States[36] | Windows 98 or later, Mac OS X, Linux[36] | 128, 160, and 192 kbit/s (depending on subscription) WMA, or 256 kbit/s MP3 | Partial, Real DNA [37], has DRM-free MP3s[38] | 30 seconds | 14 days | 25 Free streams a month[39] | |
Rhino Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Music Group | 2,000 artists {{citation}} : Empty citation (help)
|
FLAC, WMA, and Apple Lossless | 30 seconds | ||||||
Spotify | 13,000,000 songs | Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States | iPhone, Android, Symbian, Windows Mobile, Palm, Mac, Windows, Linux (preview, or using Wine) | 320 kbit/s MP3 | Yes | 7/30 days | Streaming or download, depending on account type. | ||
Traxsource | 500,000 songs | None | Platform independent | 320 kbit/s MP3, 265 kbit/s AAC, WAV | No | 60 seconds | None | Dance music specialist. | |
Vodafone Music | 6,000,000 songs | Europe, Africa and Australasia[1] | Windows 98 or later | 320 kbit/s MP3 PC, 64 kbit/s AAC+ enhanced Mobile | No | 30 seconds | None | Yes | Dual download to mobile and PC, Europe offers java mobile client as well |
Walmart Music | 6,000,000 songs | United States[40] | Platform independent | 256 kbit/s MP3 | DRM discontinued in Feb. 2008[41] | 30 seconds | None | ||
WiMP | 3,000,000 songs | Norway and Denmark | Cross-platform (Adobe Air) | AAC 64 kb or AAC 256 kbit/s | No | 5-30 seconds | 30 days | ||
Zune Marketplace | 14,000,000 songs[42] | United States , Europe , Japan , Hong Kong , India , Singapore | Windows XP SP2 or higher[43] | 192 kbit/s WMA;[44] 256, and 320 kbit/s MP3[45]; Windows Phone 7 or higher; XBox 360 | Purchase: no (DRM-free MP3). Subscription: Partial, does not support PlaysForSure, | 30 Seconds | ZunePass 14 day trial | Podcasts, Music Videos, TV Shows, Movies, Movie Rentals, Movie Trailers, Zune HD apps, Games, Channels, Unlimited Music Downloads, Keep 10 Songs Every Month | |
TunesDiary | IND | Platform independent | MP3 320kps | No | Full Length | No Trial | No | Play full lyrics along with song. Full streaming, Share song with friends and socialize over music | |
Store | Selection (approximately) | Geographic restrictions | Platform | Format | DRM | Preview | Trial | Download Again/Locker | Other |
See also
- List of online music databases, including sites offering music streaming
Notes and references
- ^ a b "Vodafone Music".
- ^ "DROPme > never miss a beat". Retrieved 2008-06-30.
- ^ Digital Music Stores Compared
- ^ "7digital catalogue".
- ^ "Music Start-Up Page". Retrieved 2011-08-23.
- ^ "Catalog".
- ^ An empty search query on the Amazon MP3 website shows a catalog of 16.6 million songs
- ^ a b http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/dmusic/help/amd.html/ref=dm_gs_amd
- ^ "Arkade Home". Retrieved 2011-07-26.
- ^ "artistxite - online music store". Retrieved 2011-08-10.
- ^ "Restricted tracks at Beatport". Retrieved 2009-04-07.
- ^ "Visiting BuyMusic at Buy.com". Retrieved 2011-09-05.
- ^ a b c d "Visiting BuyMusic at Buy.com". Retrieved 2007-03-19.
- ^ "CDBaby.com About Page". Retrieved 2011-08-23.
- ^ "Discogs Digital Downloads MP3".
- ^ "About eMusic". May, 2011.
{{cite web}}
: Check date values in:|date=
(help) - ^ "eMusic.com Terms of Use". Retrieved November 13, 2011.
- ^ a b c "Emusic Technical Help". Retrieved 2007-03-13.
- ^ http://www.fairsharemusic.com/about-us/what-we-do
- ^ "GoMusic: High quality DRM-free MP3 Downloads". Retrieved 2008-04-16.
- ^ "RIAA - Legal Music Sites". Retrieved 2008-11-11.
- ^ "iMesh.com". Retrieved 2008-11-11.
- ^ "Apple PR". Retrieved 2008-09-01. [dead link ]
- ^ "Apple PR". Retrieved 2011-02-13.
- ^ "iTunes Music Store". Archived from the original on 2007-03-06. Retrieved 2007-03-12.
- ^ a b "Napster Home Page". Retrieved 2011-02-03.
- ^ "Napster Quick Help - System Requirements". Retrieved 2008-05-14.
- ^ a b "MP3 Downloads". Retrieved 2008-06-18.
- ^ "PayPlay.FM website". Retrieved 2008-06-01.
- ^ "PayPlay.FM Starts Selling 1,300,000 Tracks of DRM-Free Music". Retrieved 2007-05-29.
- ^ "Puretracks - Puretracks Music Store". Retrieved 2009-05-31.
- ^ a b c "Puretracks 2.0". Retrieved 2007-03-19.
- ^ Nowak, Peter (2007-02-27). "Puretracks takes lead in rights fight". Financial Post. Retrieved 2007-03-13.
- ^ http://www.qobuz.com/blogs/qobuzblog/2010/08/18/sur-qobuz-vous-avez-desormais-le-droit-a-la-qualite-et-la-liberte-du-format-de-telechargement-2/
- ^ "Rhapsody About Us".
- ^ a b "Rhapsody Online Help". Archived from the original on 2007-03-12. Retrieved 2007-03-13.
- ^ "Real cuts cord on PlaysForSure WMA". Retrieved 2007-03-13.
- ^ "Rhapsody Teams with Universal Music Group for DRM-Free Music Test". Retrieved 2008-02-04.
- ^ "Rhapsody FAQ". Retrieved 2007-03-13.
- ^ "Walmart Music Downloads Questions". Retrieved 2011-04-14.
- ^ "Wal-Mart Music Downloads Help". Retrieved 2011-04-14.
- ^ "Zune expands to Canada". Retrieved 2011-01-07.
- ^ "Zune Software Release Notes". Archived from the original on 2007-03-13. Retrieved 2007-03-13.
{{cite web}}
:|archive-date=
/|archive-url=
timestamp mismatch; 2007-03-06 suggested (help) - ^ "Zune Marketplace Review by CNET". Retrieved 2007-03-20.
- ^ "Zune Forums". Retrieved 2010-01-12.