Amazon MP3 Finally Gets UK Launch

Author	Gordon Kelly
Published	3rd Dec 2008

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This is surely something to shout about, yes? So why isn't Amazon raising its voice above a whisper...?

Touted for a 2008 UK launch since January, the venerable online behemoth has today made its deadline just as Amazon MP3 UK is finally up and running.

Mysteriously given the softest of soft launches (not even a press release has been issued) this is underselling of a vast magnitude considering the store Stateside has already taken a sizeable chuck of iTunes sales and provides solely DRM free content - including deals with each of the 'Big Four' record labels (Sony BMG, Universal, EMI and Warner).

In fact all we have about Amazon MP3 is a little link on the main Amazon UK front page (see below - can you spot it?!) and, once clicked, this simple message: "Welcome to our new MP3 music downloads store--we have millions of songs and albums and are adding thousands more every day. New to MP3? Check our Getting Started page. Got opinions you want to share? Give us feedback, or discuss on the forum at the bottom of this page."

So much for the big sell.

Still with albums like Coldplay's dull Viva La Vida and the ever superb Kings of Leon's latest Only By The Night going for just £3 plus a raft of top singles including Guns n Roses I can't believe Axl finally let go and released it Chinese Democracy for 59p prices comfortably beat that of iTunes and even top notch UK favourite and fellow Big Four DRM free seller 7Digital. On the downside tracks are currently sold at 256Kbps, not too shabby but not up there with 7Digital's 320Kbps and there's no indication how long this generous promotion may last...

So grab them while they're hot people and Amazon, do speak up...

Update: We've got that press release now and no further news on how long these promotions will last other than they are here "at launch" so I'd suggest you be snappy. Oh and here's a quote for those of you who like that kind of thing:

Greg Greeley, Vice-President of Amazon EU Retail, said: "We're excited to provide our UK customers with more ways to discover and enjoy great music. In addition to the millions of low-priced CDs available in our music store, Amazon MP3 now provides a vast selection of DRM-free albums and songs across every genre you can think of, ready to enjoy in seconds" He added: "With some of this Christmas' biggest albums from £3, it's a great opportunity for customers to experience the quality, choice and convenience of Amazon MP3."

At last, some selling - never thought I'd miss it!

Link:
Amazon MP3 UK

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Jay said on 3rd December 2008

good prices on 7digital and amazon too, gotta wonder why people would use itunes now?

cjb110 said on 4th December 2008

single download though, so if you loose it tough...no idea why amazon can't remember what you've bought though? they do for normal purchases!

ravmania said on 4th December 2008

i used to use ITMS for the sheer convenience but only for the odd single and never for whole albums. i've now started using 7 digital because of the lack of drm, lower prices ... more

yungchin said on 7th December 2008

Indeed the 256kbps bitrate is "not too shabby" (your words). I bought the Coldplay album, and according to encspot (analyzes the encoder info in the file header) the file... more

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