| The Internet abounds in sites that offer digital music. Some websites charge per online music download, whereas other websites require a monthly fee for an unlimited number of music downloads. It has been researched that compact disc sales are declining (19% in the last couple of years), and digital music download sales are quickly raising. Experts claim, revenues from digital music sales skyrocketed nearly threefold last year, with Apple's iTunes accounting for more than 85 percent of single soundtrack downloads. Still, this does not mean that Apple is the sole source of digital music. At present, lawful music download websites account for about 6% of record companies' revenues, which is a boost compared to the situation two years ago.
There are two kinds of music download websites: 'rent' and 'buy' websites. 'Rent' services are music websites involving a monthly fee paid to gain access to the whole music database. 'Buy' sites charge per soundtrack - iTunes, for example - where a soundtrack can be burned onto a CD providing it is paid for. The CD can then be ripped to the personal computer. Some digital music websites require a monthly fee for unlimited listening rights, but also charge to purchase a soundtrack.
Some online music download websites charge 9 cents per song. Also, these websites have songs that can be downloaded in any common audio format and quality. Sometimes music download websites are so cheap and user-friendly that many Internet users choose to download music from these sites instead of ripping CD collections onto the computer.
For any user downloading tracks onto an iPod or iTunes, it is probably the optimum option. For any music not being downloaded onto an iPod, any other music source will suit. When looking for the optimal quality music downloads, one should look for music download websites containing the largest selection of music that is regularly updated, and high quality downloads. Normally, the price directly depends on quality. In this case, a question arises: Is it worth spending extra money? The answer is positive. |
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