Amazon is Number Two... By a Mile...

[Vincent Ferrari]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/amazons_music_store_remains_a_very_distant_second_to_apples_itunes_store/' target='_blank'>http://www.macdailynews.com/index.p...s_itunes_store/</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"After its first full year selling tracks from all four major labels, Amazon's digital music store has become the second-largest a la carte service, according to industry estimates," Billboard reports. "But it's a very distant second to iTunes," Billboard reports. "Major-label sources say that they had hoped the company would have fared better than it did."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/at/auto/1229432800.usr18053.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #d2d2bb;" /></p><p>I both use and like Amazon's MP3 store.&nbsp; They're the first non-Apple service to get the integration with the iPod ecosystem correct and they do a damn good job of it.&nbsp; That being said, Amazon is almost never my first choice.&nbsp; You can't buy MP3's on remote devices (ie: the iPhone and iPod Touch) and browsing is nowhere near as intuitive as it is in iTunes (although the search feature on Amazon is infinitely better than the garbage Apple cranked into iTunes).</p><p>The bottom line is that the music industry was terrified of Apple becoming an online music monopoly so they gave Amazon things they wouldn't even give Apple to keep them at bay.&nbsp; While that may have scored them some "zing" points, it didn't really knock it out of the park from a business perspective and it didn't create the iTunes destroyer they hoped it would.</p><p>Amazon will continue to do well, but it's going to take a long time to knock iTunes off that pedestal, particularly in a time when we aren't even talking about iTunes being only the number one <strong>online</strong> retailer of music, and are now comparing it to the likes of Wal-Mart and others in the brick and mortar world.</p>

[doogald]

I think I've bought more from Amazon than iTunes in the last year (though I never actually buy that much anyway.) I actually just received a $5 credit the other day to spend some more.

I'm liking the fact that I have the choice, if I want it, and they are pretty aggressive about daily deals on albums.

[mikestew]

<div class='os_post_top_link'>You can't buy MP3's on remote devices (ie: the iPhone and iPod Touch)

You can't buy MP3s on iTunes, either, remote or otherwise.

I quit buying from iTunes in favor of Amazon. More money for lower bitrate, DRM-laden content? No, thanks, I'll put up with any shortcomings of Amazon in favor of content with a higher bitrate that I can play anywhere I choose. The reasons why Amazon gets a better deal is not my problem.

Besides, I'll take a far superior search capability over an alleged better browsing experience. YMMV, but the former is more important to me (especially considering how horrific iTunes is) than the latter.

[Vincent Ferrari]

You can't buy MP3s on iTunes, either, remote or otherwise.

No, but you can buy a lot of unencrypted AAC files and you can add to your collection if you're willing to accept DRM with everything in Apple's catalog (I mis-wrote MP3 in the article, I meant music files).

I quit buying from iTunes in favor of Amazon. More money for lower bitrate, DRM-laden content? No, thanks, I'll put up with any shortcomings of Amazon in favor of content with a higher bitrate that I can play anywhere I choose.

The devices I play my music on all support Apple's DRM: My AppleTV, MacBook Pro, and iPhone, so I don't know where I'd want to play it that I can't. I know that isn't true for everyone, but for me, it's a non-issue. I've bought into the ecosystem over the past few years so the idea that I can't take my music to a Zune or other device is irrelevant to me.

Besides, I'll take a far superior search capability over an alleged better browsing experience. YMMV, but the former is more important to me (especially considering how horrific iTunes is) than the latter.

I've found plenty of music on iTunes by browsing or looking at lists, etc., and that's not even counting what the Genius has discovered for me. The convenience of buying an album in Starbucks and not having to do it with a laptop far outweighs being able to play my music on a device I don't even own, so you're definitely right; my mileage does indeed vary.

[Vincent Ferrari]

I'm liking the fact that I have the choice, if I want it, and they are pretty aggressive about daily deals on albums.

I actually like knowing there is a choice. Using it? Eh. I don't honestly use it all that much (I probably should, to be honest). As I said in the prior post, I'm very invested in the Apple ecosystem anyway, so DRM issues don't exist for me. I guess if that changed (not likely, but you never know) then I'd care more about Amazon's offering.

[doogald]

My car stereo can play MP3 and WMA files burned on data CDs. I'm not spending several hundred on a new stereo or the stuff needed for an iPod dock, so for a few cents this works great for me. And Amazon files are MP3, so that works . . .

[Dyvim]

My current decision path works like this:
(1) Is it available in iTunes as iTunes Plus? If yes, buy; otherwise
(2) Is it available in Amazon.com? If yes, buy; otherwise
(3) Is it available in iTunes with DRM? If yes, buy. I can always strip the DRM anyway (used to want to put iTunes purchases on a Motorola SLVR and WM handhelds but these days it's all within Apple's ecosystem).

Of course this applies mostly to singles. For albums I still typically go for the CD, although for some albums that aren't exactly hi fidelity I'm starting to purchase in 256 kbps format (either AAC or MP3).

[ctmagnus]

My gripe with Amazon is that they were supposed to open their (http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/27/amazon-mp3-store-to-spread-drm-free-love-global-this-year/) Canadian MP3 store this year (http://communities.canada.com/montrealgazette/blogs/tech/archive/2008/01/28/amazon-mp3-downloads-coming-to-canada.aspx).

They have 15 days left.

[Vincent Ferrari]

My gripe with Amazon is that they were supposed to open their (http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/27/amazon-mp3-store-to-spread-drm-free-love-global-this-year/) Canadian MP3 store this year (http://communities.canada.com/montrealgazette/blogs/tech/archive/2008/01/28/amazon-mp3-downloads-coming-to-canada.aspx).

They have 15 days left.

Don't hold your breath, old friend ;)

[crimsonsky]

iTunes is where I buy the vast majority of music, but I've bought some things on Amazon that I couldn't find in iTunes. The big problem with Amazon is having to buy tracks one at a time. I use the shopping cart on iTunes, and as far as I can tell, Amazon doesn't allow that. Also, overall the iTunes experience is just smoother for one already in the Apple ecosystem.

[Macguy59]

My current decision path works like this:
(1) Is it available in iTunes as iTunes Plus? If yes, buy; otherwise
(2) Is it available in Amazon.com? If yes, buy; otherwise
(3) Is it available in iTunes with DRM? If yes, buy. I can always strip the DRM anyway (used to want to put iTunes purchases on a Motorola SLVR and WM handhelds but these days it's all within Apple's ecosystem).

Shouldn't you have used "THEN" & "ELSE" statements ? Ok I'm showing my age :p

[Pony99CA]

My gripe with Amazon is that they were supposed to open their (http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/27/amazon-mp3-store-to-spread-drm-free-love-global-this-year/) Canadian MP3 store this year (http://communities.canada.com/montrealgazette/blogs/tech/archive/2008/01/28/amazon-mp3-downloads-coming-to-canada.aspx).

They have 15 days left.
I'm torn. Should I say, "They have the Internet in Canada?" or "What's the gripe if there are still 15 days left?" :D

Seriously, I just got a $5 Amazon music credit, so I've been downloading a few things there. One thing I wondered about iTunes is whether it lets you hear the whole song before you buy or just a clip. Amazon only lets you hear 15 or 30 seconds, which often isn't enough (especially to hear if there are differences in the seemingly identical versions).

Also, some songs are available only in albums (usually extended songs). Sheila E's "Love Bizarre" or Danity Kane's "Show Stopper" club mix, for example, aren't available as single downloads. Does iTunes restrict some songs to those buying the album?

Steve

[doogald]

I wondered about iTunes is whether it lets you hear the whole song before you buy or just a clip. Amazon only lets you hear 15 or 30 seconds, which often isn't enough (especially to hear if there are differences in the seemingly identical versions).

30 seconds for the iTunes Music Store. I think that is the edge of fair use in the US, but I could be mistaken about that.