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Every music listener has diverse needs. What are yours?

There are Internet music services – from the casual pop lover to the audiobook listener. Which one would you choose?

Some quick Tips -

Mac user or PC user?

Any products by Apple, including the iPod line, are often solely compatible with the iTunes Music Store, which is available on both Macs and PC s.

Other devices with the “Plays for Sure” logo work well with Windows Media Player – based download services and are computer -only. Check your favorite devices for compatibility before you buy. prefer Apple, Sony players will only work with the Sony Connect music service.

iTunes Music Store -  Home of the 99-cent download, the iTunes Music Store (ITMS) features over 1 million songs. Entire albums are available for download but the ITMS only helps iPod devices. The system allows you to burn your tracks to compact disc  for low-tech consumption. Most major labels are represented and ITMS tends to get newer music even before some of the other major players. A partnership with Audible.com likewise allows you to download audiobooks, allowing you to while away the road miles with a nice book.

MusicMatch -  MusicMatch’s On Demand subscription service makes this system stand out. Instead of buying individual tunes, you pay $5.95 to listen to a selection of tunes for a certain period of time. Once you cancel your subscription, however, the music disappears. MusicMatch additionally provides 99-cent tracks. A special music suggestion engine makes short work of figuring out what you’d like to listen to next.

eMusic -  eMusic is a pioneering MP3 service that offers a number of downloads for a  set price. The the majority expensive offer, for example, costs $19.99 and entitles you to 90 song downloads per month. The tracks will play on any MP3 player in the world and are completely unprotected by any digital rights management. The music is skewed towards the alternative and unknowns but there are thousands of gems in eMusic’s extensive library, from the Pixies to Bloc gathering.

Napster -  The original music service has gone legit. Individual tracks are 99 cents and Napster to Go offers unlimited downloads to any MP3 player for $14.95. The to Go service, like MusicMatch’s service, expires once your subscription lapses. You may only burn purchased tracks to CD s, but the catalog is broad  and Napster features all of the latest from artists in all type of s.

Rhapsody -  Rhapsody offers free downloadable music in trial mode as well as a $9.95 all-you-can eat subscription with 99-cent downloads and Rhapsody to Go which allows you to download content to your MP3 player. prefer other Microsoft DRM -based services, music you didn’t pay for is erased when your subscription lapses.

Sony Connect -  Similar to the iTunes Music Store, Sony’s store will only work with Sony players, which use the proprietary ATRAC format for music files. But one of those players is the decidedly hot performance Station Portable game, video and music device. Sony’s store includes music from all the major labels, not just the Sony catalog. like other music stores you may also burn downloaded music to compact disc s.

MSN -  A latecomer to the event, the MSN Music Store assists Microsoft’s Janus DRM system, which is bundled with the majority copies of Windows. Tracks are 99 cents and the service is compatible with the majority non-Apple MP3 players. Major labels are well represented, but the featured music skews towards less alternative acts.