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Real opens DRM-free MP3 store

30 June 2008 18:17 by Andre "DVDBack23" Yoskowitz | 6 comments

Today, Real announced the beta launch of its DRM-Free Rhapsody MP3 Store, a completely different service then its current DRM-based subscription service.

The new store will sell MP3s and has already secured the full catalogs of all the Big 4 music labels. The store also promises to allow subscribers full-length previews of any song they want before purchasing while non-subscribers can preview up to 25 complete songs.

Giving the store another edge over rivals such as iTunes, Amazon and Napster is Real's exclusive connection to MTV, CMT and VH1. Facebook users can also access the service and individual songs directly using the iLike application.

The Rhapsody service will not however, offer re-downloads for misplaced music like Amazon does.

Pricing for the service is identical to that of Napster, with individual songs costing 99 cents and full albums usually priced at $10. The company adds "Windows-only subscriptions will remain in place and cost $13 per month for PCs alone or $15 for those who also want device transfers to Rhapsody-compatible devices."

Permalink to this article | Topics: MP3 & Digital Audio Online music services

Best Buy acquires Napster (15 September 2008)

Lenovo PCs to come with free trial for Napster (7 September 2008)

Yahoo to shut down DRM servers for Yahoo Music Limited after September (24 July 2008)

Music industry veterans see the upside of album leaks (12 July 2008)

Study reveals TVs as popular as MP3 players for music (9 July 2008)

Verizon expands VCast Music to include new Rhapsody (1 July 2008)

Orange opens music download store (12 June 2008)

Radiohead agrees to let iTunes sell individual tracks from EMI years (4 June 2008)

Napster opens the world's largest DRM-free MP3 store (20 May 2008)

RIAA representative forecasts a comeback for DRM (8 May 2008)

Adobe releases Media Player software (9 April 2008)

Amazon becomes iTunes' biggest competitor for digital downloads (26 March 2008)

SanDisk promotes DRM-free audio with MicroSD cards (23 March 2008)

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Discuss this article!
corn (Senior Member) 1 July 2008 0:07
It's seriously a dream come true... I hope it's real. Although since all four of the big record labels signed it, it could be fake. [ + quote]
ivymike (Junior Member) 2 July 2008 7:00
From my experinces with Real Rhapsody, Rhapsody subtracts $10.00 US dollars from your bank account for a couple of days after you purchase a song. The $10.00 is returned minus the cost of the song after this period. This still is bad for people with limited income or for people who have better things to do with their hard earned cash. I will NEVER purchase a song from Real for this very reason. [ + quote]
varnull (AfterDawn Addict) 2 July 2008 7:13
^^ is that legal? They try that kind of trick on me and I will have them for theft of my money, and when returned I will want the interest that I have lost compensating also. Free open source software = made by end users who want an application to work. Get off my beach before I burn down your village! [ + quote]
ikari (Newbie) 2 July 2008 10:55
*Originally posted by varnull:* ^^ is that legal? They try that kind of trick on me and I will have them for theft of my money, and when returned I will want the interest that I have lost compensating also. I am sure it is because it would be written in the fine print of your user argreement that you "sign". Yahoo for fine print!! [ + quote]
Matt555 (Newbie) 2 July 2008 15:42
Sounds good! Now all they need to do is open their doors to the Canadian market, I wouldn't mind trying something other than iTunes, but I dont see me moving to the States for an online music service. [ + quote]
nprfan (Newbie) 7 July 2008 14:59
No DRM, gleat, but enough with the MP3 clap alleady! Let's get into LOSSLESS DRM-free music. FLAC, etc. I never bought cassettes, and I'll never pay for lossy mp3's. ;-) [ + quote]