Appe's iTunes UK service may face a twin-pronged attack by number two UK online music service, 7digital and the new-to-market Amazon MP3 store by the end of summer.
What gives these two latest iTunes-killers some promise is that both stores will offer music DRM-free, and both will offer catalogue from all the major labels. At present, Apple's service only offers music from EMI and the majors.
You can't underestimate the importance of DRM-free tracks at high-quality. 7 Digital's sales have climbed 300 per cent since the introduction of DRM-free downloads from Warner Music through its UK service.
"It is now clear that MP3 downloads represent the future for digital music. With two of the four major labels now supporting MP3 in the UK, we expect to see the whole market supporting MP3 in the not-too-distant future," said 7digital CEO Ben Drury.
It's widely believed Sony BMG and Universal will release their DRM-free MP3 catalogues by the end of September. That move will widen 7digital's offering and enable introduction of the Amazon music service in the UK.
Universal, Sony BMG and Warner Music have as yet refused Apple a license to sell their catalogues free of DRM, preferring to favour Apple's competitors in an attempt to weaken the power the company has acquired in music sales.
"This format makes the digital music proposition simple for consumers with one universal format for all devices. Music lovers are beginning to realise that owning an iPod doesn’t mean just buying tracks from iTunes and, in fact, MP3’s are far superior in terms of compatibility," Drury said.
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