Amazon to buy Audible

February 1, 2008   0 Comments
Amazon has announced it has purchased Audible, for a cool $300m. For those unfamilair with Audible, it is the largest audio book provider on the internet. This move makes good sense for Amazon, and will allow them to offer downloadable audiobooks along the side of the standard print version.


Another way to look at this is Amazon potentially trying to compete against another piece of Apple's iTunes content. From the Audiobooks introduction in iTunes, Audible been providing the content. Amazon has already started selling its DRM-Free music under the Amazon MP3 service, why not sell audio versions of their bread and butter, books. Audible and iTunes have a contract in place, but who's to say Amazon won't make it more difficult or costly for them to renew that contract when it becomes time. With a single denial, Amazon could significantly damage iTunes' Audio Book Library.

None of this will happen until the second quarter of the year anyhow. Lets hope Amazon and Apple player nicer then Apple and NBC.

Labels: Amazon Mp3, Audio Books

Amazon to take MP3's International

January 28, 2008   0 Comments
Amazon has committed to selling MP3 music files through its international sites in 2008. This move would help them compete with other international online music services such as iTunes. Amazon currently run online stores in the U.K., Germany, France, Japan, Canada, and China. Despite the desire to launch internationally, not much has been found in the way of a game plan. As with selling digital media internationally, there are many legal hoops to jump through.

Amazon began selling DRM-Free MP3 music last September, and has quickly become one of the favorite Mp3 providers on the internet. Their flexible price points and strong relationships with record labels have allowed them to be flexible with their online catalog of music.

Labels: Amazon Mp3

Warner Music Joins Amazon Mp3

December 27, 2007   0 Comments
Amazon MP3 has added several Warner Music Group artists to their online catalog. Through a recent agreement with Warner Music Group, you can now download DRM-Free music from the likes of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, The Eagles, Led Zeppelin, Metallica and Metallica.

With this deal Amazon is now boasting "The Earth's Biggest Selection of a la cart DRM-Free Music". Prior to this Amazon ranked behind Apple iTunes Plus catalog. Being DRM Free the music you purchase can be played on any music player including Apple iPods, iPhones, AppleTV, Zunes, etc. Warner Music has also said they expect to bundle albums with special tracks, not available a-la carte.

Labels: Amazon Mp3