Once again there is news on a company releasing an online music downloading service. This time RealNetworks Inc. has announced that they will bring their Rhapsody music download service to Europe. The European music downloading business is emerging and thus the American company hopes to cash in. RealNetworks is to launch the European version of Rhapsody in the second half of this year:
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Also in the hunt are Apple Computer Inc.'s iTunes and Roxio Inc.'s Napster, the two most recognizable brands to music download fans, which are widely expected to make their Continental debut in mid-2004.
The band of new entrants will go head-to-head with some of Europe's biggest music retailers including Britain's HMV (HMV.L) and Virgin MegaStores, plus download stores run by Microsoft's MSN and Tiscali (TIS.MI). Rhapsody carries a catalog of 385,000 songs for Web streaming and more than 275,000 for permanent download of such artists as Elvis and Pink Floyd. It is now available only to U.S. customers who pay a $ 9.95 monthly subscription fee and an additional 79 cents per download.
A similar pricing scheme is being developed for Europe, a spokeswoman for the Seattle-based digital media firm said. Earlier this month, Rhapsody said subscribers had streamed more than 21 million songs in September. |
It's interesting to see that a lot of companies are starting their own version of an online music download service even though so far, industry-backed services have proved no match for free download services such as Kazaa and Grokster...
This news was, by the way, spotted by GristyMcFisty. What a surprise! ;)
Source: Yahoo! News
Hey, I've not got much to do at work! Once I set up a computer it stays setup and doesn't go wrong... 
Hey, I've not got much to do at work!LOL
I wonder how your employer feels about this 
Hey Gristy, do they have any openings? Sounds like what I have been looking for!!! Except the setting up of computers.
[edited by Crabbyappleton on 22.10.2003 17:28]
No openings at the moment guys...I get a bit worried about my job sometimes though. I do so little it's embarassing! Apart from the news uploads, I sit here and design VCD covers for movies and upload them to cdcovers.cc - just for fun, no other reason.
I could sit at home and support this place remotely. I'd only ever have to turn up if there was a hardware fault...I have an important moto, if a user causes you grief, take away their PC and give them a notepad and pencil! 
Happy Birthday to you 
