AfterDawn: News

Real opens DRM-free MP3 store

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."

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 30 Jun 2008 18:17

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• 6 comments

• corn

  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.

  1.7.2008 00:07 #1

• ivymike

  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.

  2.7.2008 07:00 #2

• 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.
  

  
  
  Free open source software = made by end users who want an application to work. Get off my beach before I burn down your village!

  2.7.2008 07:13 #3

• ikari

  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!!

  2.7.2008 10:55 #4

• Matt555

  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.

  2.7.2008 15:42 #5

• nprfan

  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. ;-)

  7.7.2008 14:59 #6