MusicMatch is hoping to have the same success as Apples iTunes with a new download service that they are launching as you are reading this. With a customer base of 40 million and being bundled with many a digital player, they may have a chance.
However,
like many services there are strings attached. Some may say, in this case they have added a rope with a noose at the end. Or at least enough strings to operate you like a marionette! I am curious to see how many stick in their necks; here is quote from the article.
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Licensing rules allows customers to play tracks on up to three PCs, transfer them to Windows Media-supported players, or burn to CDs. Playlists can only be burned up to five times, however. Rob Enderle, principle analyst for the Enderle Group, said: 'It improves on Apple's iTunes and addresses the other 98 percent of the market.' MusicMatch is implementing its patent-pending personalisation technology to suggest new music to users when they log into their accounts, based on the type of music they already listen to. There is also MusicMatch Radio to encourage impulse buys, as well as features that round up the most popular tracks for any given artist, so customers can buy 'the best of...' tracks, rather than the entire collection. |
The files are going to be "high quality" at 160kbps, the Windows codec is very good at this rate. But what do we think about a codec that can be played in any Windows media supported player, three PCs and the playlist can only be burned 5 times?
This is another DRM system that I won't be embracing. When I purchase something I purchase it once and I intend to use it as much as I wish. I am tired of being treated as a criminal. Also, these folks must realise that the tracks are expensive at 99 cents each and I am doing all the work. They should be tickled that I downloaded them and leave me alone.
Also the article makes a good point. "What MusicMatch doesn't have, however, is the type of loyalty commanded by Apple, but with a much larger audience of PC users, it may not need it."
Well then again it might. As we can still make choices with legal download services. Other than the DRM they have some good ideas and offer a unique service with some good marketing features. We will keep an eye on this one and report it's success or failure in the next couple months. It will be interesting to see how MusicMatch users react to this marketing scheme.
Details of UK availability and pricing were not available at the time of writing.
Source: pcpro.co.uk
