Amazon MP3

Amazon.com is really becoming a one-stop shopping destination. In addition to books, CDs and DVDs, Amazon also offers electronics, computer accessories, clothing, health and beauty aids, bedding, and even groceries.

You may not have noticed before but Amazon.com has also gotten into the music download business; they offer a large selection of MP3 downloads. Unfortunately, it is only available to US customers at the moment. Tracks sell for $0.99 each, just like at iTunes, although some songs can be downloaded for $0.89. Albums sell anywhere from $4.99 and under to $9.00 and over. All songs are compatible with iTunes and the Windows Media Player.

Amazon MP3 has thousands of MP3s for download. They are arranged by genre, price, or most popular. The site also compiles lists of the top sellers which are updated every day.

Here are a few examples of what is available from Amazon MP3:

David Cook won American Idol this year. At the time of writing, his first release, "The Time of My Life", is the most popular download at AmazonMP3.

The most popular album download is currently Narrow Stairs by Death Cab for Cutie. But you don't have to buy the entire album, you can buy just the individual tracks that you are interested in.

Amazon MP3 also offers special deals on some album downloads. For instance, you can buy the album 1999 by Prince for $7.99, or you can buy Jump Back: The Best of the Rolling Stones '71-'93 for the same price.

I am a huge fan of the music of the 80s. The editors of Amazon MP3 have compiled a list of one-hit-wonders. The 80s seems to have produced a large amount of one-hit-wonders. Notable downloads, or basically songs I actually remember hearing, include: Take on Me (album version) by Ah-ha and (I just) Died In Your Arms by Cutting Crew.

Amazon MP3 also offers a section on songs that have appeared on television. It includes songs used in TV commercials (like Feist's song 1234 and Walking on Sunshine by Katrina and the Waves), and songs heard on television programs such as Grey's Anatomy and Scrubs. You can also download the soundtracks to your favourite shows or MP3s of television performers who also sing.

The Amazon MP3 site is very easy to negotiate. The main page has lists of the most popular downloads in a variety of genres, editors picks, and recommendations based on what you have looked at.

Currently, Amazon MP3 is miniscule compared to iTunes but they seem to be offering more and more downloads every day. Hopefully, those artists whose MP3s are only available through iTunes will allow them to be offered here also.