MySpace Music offers free music streaming and DRM-free downloads
MySpace looks to have finally done what Apple has been either unable or unwilling to do and created what could well be the mother of all music services.
The new MySpace Music has all four major music labels on board – Sony BMG, EMI, Universal and Warner – and offers free ad-supported full-track music streaming.
MySpace has also linked up with Amazon to offer DRM-free MP3 download sales and Jamster gets the nod to provide payware ringtone services. (Although why anyone would pay for a ringtone is completely beyond me, especially if you have a half-decent CD or MP3 music collection).
The service is only available in the US as of today but is planned to rolled out globally although MySpace execs wouldn’t be drawn on a date.
Currently, the social network site says its in talks with Australian music industry reps.
You can access the service, which includes a new player, at myspace.com/music.
This probably won’t be a red-letter day for MySpace Music rival, iTunes. Apple’s Steve Jobs may have put out an open letter against DRM but he’s still happily selling DRM’d music on the Apple iTunes store.
This new service could spell the end for digital rights management, at least on music at any rate. Apple still has plenty of clout thanks to its iTune software but the fact the iPod supports MP3 means users will have the choice of sticking with iTunes or jumping on-board MySpace, trialing new music and buying it DRM-free.
If Apple wasn’t worried, I reckon they should be.
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