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Business News Digital
MSN relaunch download service in UK
By CMU Editorial | Published on Thursday 5 November 2009
Microsoft has relaunched MSN Music in the UK, a move that had been anticipated for a few months.
MSN Music, of course, was one of the original download services, providing music with that lovely Microsoft digital rights management system that was so good, even Microsoft chose not to use it when developing their Zune player.
The all new MSN Music will not come with DRM, obviously, given DRM is very out of fashion in a la carte download circles. Users will be able to choose between the MP3 format or Microsoft’s WMA codec, though presumably everyone will go with the former, it increasing the compatibility of the whole shebang somewhat.
As well as download sales, the platform will offer editorial, 30-second previews and a playlist creation and peer recommendation whatnot. There is also a free streaming service, currently without ads, though it’s not entirely clear whether that will be available for everyone, certainly there’s talk of it being limited and invite-only initially.
One of the most interesting things about the new download service is its pricing structure. Although downloads will be priced at the industry standard 79p each, people will have to charge up their account at £7.99 a time, rather than being billed for each purchase. Presumably there are transaction cost savings by adopting that system, whether it will be popular with punters remains to be seen.
If you’re curious, go check downloads.music.uk.msn.com
