This page lists all the sites I know of that sell downloadable music online. I have grouped the sites into three categories:
I have not registered on every site listed here so in many cases I could not evaluate the checkout process. If I buy something from these sites I'll update this page with the checkout info.
Nearly all of the non-rights managed sites sell mainly electronic music. I don't know if this is because of my poor research or because dance music labels and shops are closer to the cutting edge of technology than country music labels and the like...
These sites sell music legally in non-DRM formats. In other words, formats that do not use any technical rights management system or copy protection that would limit the use of downloaded tracks. In practice most of these sites sell MP3 files, although some offer music in other formats as well.
| Site review | Formats | Pricing | Online since |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Beat Digital | MP3 192/320 Kbps | £ 1.50 / 1.99 | |
| ATS Digital | MP3 128/192/320 Kbps | £ 0.99 / 1.25 / 1.50 | 2004 |
| AudioJelly | MP3 192 Kbps | £ 1.00 | 2004 July |
| Audio Lunchbox | MP3 192 Kbps VBR | $ 0.99 | 2003 April |
| Ogg Vorbis Q6 | $ 0.99 | ||
| Beatport | MP3 192 or 320 Kbps VBR | $ 0.99 / 1.49 / 1.99 | 2004 January |
| MP4 | $ 0.99 / 1.49 / 1.99 | ||
| WAV | $ 1.99 | ||
| Bleep | MP3 LAME --alt | €1.35 or €9.99 for full album | 2004 January |
| City16.com (former Hooj.com) | WMA9 192 Kbps | £ 1.00 | |
| Digibag | MP3 | $ 1.50 | |
| WAV | $ 2.00 | ||
| Digital Jay | ? | $ 0.99 and up | |
| EDM Digital | MP3 192/320 Kbps | $ 1.50 / 2.00 | |
| FLAC | $ 3.00 | ||
| Fiberlineaudio.com | MP3 320 Kbps | $ 1.50 | |
| WAV | |||
| foryourears.com | MP3 192 Kbps | €0.99 with discounts on full releases | 2004 June |
| Karmadownload.com | MP3 256 Kbps | £ 0.99 with discounts when buying more than one track | 2004 August |
| Nufonix | MP3 VBR | $ 0.98 – 1.25 | 2004 |
| Play it Tonight | MP3 256 Kbps | $ 0.99 | 2003 December |
| Release Records | MP3 256 Kbps | about $ 1.50, depends on release | |
| Trackitdown.net | MP3 192 Kbps | £ 0.99 | 2004 July |
| Tranzfusion Digital | |||
| Trax2burn | MP3 192 Kbps | £ 0.99 | |
| Uploud | MP4 256 Kbps | €1.50, albums for €12.50 | |
| Uptown Records | MP3 | £ 0.99 | |
| YoShop |
Music bought from these sites is protected and there are limits to the use of the tracks. Usually this means you can burn a limited amount of copies of the songs on CD-R and copy the music to a couple of computers and MP3 player devices. It might also mean you are not able to play the downloaded files in any other software but the one supported player.
| Site review | Formats | Pricing | Online since |
|---|---|---|---|
| iTunes Music Store | AAC | $ 0.99, $9.99 for an album; with exceptions | 2003 April |
| MSN Music | WMA 160 Kbps | $ 0.99, $9.99 for an album; with exceptions | 2004 September |
| Walmart | WMA | $ 0.88, album rates vary | 2003 November |
Here are some labels that sell their own catalog online.
| Site review | Formats | Pricing | Online since |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anjuna Beats Digital | £ 1.30 and up | 2004 April (?) | |
| Bedrock | |||
| Fade Records | |||
| West End Records | MP3 192 Kbps | $ 1.49 |