Popular Online Music Stores - What's Best for You?

Online Music Stores Today

Two giants in the industry now control the vast majority of online music sales. Most people use one of these two as the default for purchasing their music. But technology and those savvy enough to take advantage of it are changing the rules.

When Two Tribes Go to War

Those tribes are Amazon and iTunes. And while iTunes is ahead by a huge margin, Amazon is still second and tops for those who still purchase CDs. At first glance it may look like iTunes future dominance is clear of obstacles. But with the continued move toward fully digital music options even iTunes is feeling the heat.

Alternatives Could Change the Game

When iTunes introduced digital music to the masses it opened a door (first opened by Napster) that could lead to its eventual demise. iTunes has made downloading digital music easy. Those purchasing their music usually store it on Apple owned devices making what could have been a difficult technical activity very simple. With iTunes downloading, organizing and playing your new tunes is seamless.

However, as people become more familiar with digital music it has opened doors to other sites - even Amazon. Those who want a better price or greater selection have begun to venture away from the big names like iTunes. But an even greater change may lie ahead by renting an unlimited selection of music instead of owning any music at all. These are called music subscription sites. And they may just be the future. A future iTunes has yet to embrace.

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