04 November 2009 | Author: D. Warburton Search Copywriter
Microsoft will launch its MSN Music service tomorrow, four months later than originally scheduled.
The Telegraph reports that Microsoft's online music service was originally scheduled to launch at the end of July, but according to MSN executive producer, Peter Bale, the product "took longer than they thought it would to get it to the high quality they wanted."
Launching on Thursday, MSN Music will offer users around one million tracks for download, in partnership with major music labels EMI, Sony BMG, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group. In comparison, competitor Apple's iTunes service currently offers over 10 million tracks for download.
Tracks will cost 79p and the majority of albums will cost £7.99, though users are required to buy packages of at least 10 'credits' at a time - with one credit being the cost of one track. MSN Music's streaming service will presently only be available to "several thousand" users in a beta test form, but when released to the public it is expected to offer free music streams without advertisements - the advertising instead being placed on the MSN Music site itself.
Microsoft is claiming that MSN Music is not intended to act as a direct rival to other online music services, including new arrivals such as Sky Songs and Google's OneBox music service. Mr Bale stated: "This shouldn't be seen as a major company-wide strategic move. We are replacing a service that used to be on MSN a year ago and the service is very much confined to MSN.
"We think reading about music and listening to music are two halves of the same thing and we wanted to offer MSN users access to a competitive download to own service - which is integrated into all of the portal's music editorial content."
Music Ally editor, Stuart Dredge, explains: "Streaming and download services are becoming quite common. Using streaming to discover new music - which then leads to downloading to own - seems a good combination. Lots of ISPs (internet service providers) such as Sky - which launched Sky Songs last month - are also getting in on the act. The music industry will welcome any legal service which promotes the sale of music. There is no one answer to get people buying music from a legal site - so this service will fall in with the rest trying to deter people from piracy."
Microsoft launches music download service
Microsoft will launch its MSN Music service tomorrow, four months later than originally scheduled.The Telegraph reports that Microsoft's online music service was originally scheduled to launch at the end of July, but according to MSN executive producer, Peter Bale, the product "took longer than they thought it would to get it to the high quality they wanted."
Launching on Thursday, MSN Music will offer users around one million tracks for download, in partnership with major music labels EMI, Sony BMG, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group. In comparison, competitor Apple's iTunes service currently offers over 10 million tracks for download.
Tracks will cost 79p and the majority of albums will cost £7.99, though users are required to buy packages of at least 10 'credits' at a time - with one credit being the cost of one track. MSN Music's streaming service will presently only be available to "several thousand" users in a beta test form, but when released to the public it is expected to offer free music streams without advertisements - the advertising instead being placed on the MSN Music site itself.
Microsoft is claiming that MSN Music is not intended to act as a direct rival to other online music services, including new arrivals such as Sky Songs and Google's OneBox music service. Mr Bale stated: "This shouldn't be seen as a major company-wide strategic move. We are replacing a service that used to be on MSN a year ago and the service is very much confined to MSN.
"We think reading about music and listening to music are two halves of the same thing and we wanted to offer MSN users access to a competitive download to own service - which is integrated into all of the portal's music editorial content."
Music Ally editor, Stuart Dredge, explains: "Streaming and download services are becoming quite common. Using streaming to discover new music - which then leads to downloading to own - seems a good combination. Lots of ISPs (internet service providers) such as Sky - which launched Sky Songs last month - are also getting in on the act. The music industry will welcome any legal service which promotes the sale of music. There is no one answer to get people buying music from a legal site - so this service will fall in with the rest trying to deter people from piracy."
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