Ditch iTunes - Use Amazon MP3

So there are a lot of people out there who are simply unfamiliar with their options in online music purchasing. So I thought I'd write this little post to explain why you should stop using iTunes and start using Amazon MP3.

So, I've been a huge detester of iTunes ever since it started. The purchases were heavily DRM encumbered (until recently you can pay more for iTunes plus, non-DRM items), the software was hugely bloated, and Apple makes no attempt to support Linux with iTunes or iPod products. (In fact they have previously gone out of their way to make iPod products more difficult to support in Linux).

So for the longest time I got my music from such sites as mp3.com and all of its later reincarnations, like the current mp3fiesta.com. The three reasons being:

1. The music comes in whatever format I want (including FLAC, which is a lossless format).
2. The music is completely DRM free, I get to decide when, where, how, and what I do with my music, forever.
3. The interface is a simple web interface that does not require I download and use some gigantic bloated piece of software.

Until recently there was no way to get any of those three reasons satisfied by a US company. (I don't want to get into the legality of mp3*.com sites, which the RIAA seems to only dislike because the RIAA doesn't control it. The RIAA argues that mp3*.com doesn't pay royalties to the artists, however mp3*.com has always told the RIAA to simply sign the papers so that mp3*.com would be allowed to send the royalties, and the RIAA refuses to do so. So it's like me complaining that you owe me money, but every time you try to give it to me I say "I don't want it.")

Anyways, as I was saying, there was no US option to get any of those 3 requirements. The Amazon MP3 service, however, at least covers options 2 and 3. They offer all of their music (at often less than iTunes prices) in the simple MP3 format. There is zero, nil, nada, DRM attached to the files. You can do anything you want with them, forever. If you wonder why I add the clause of "forever" you should read up on what happens when a DRM-ed service goes out of business: for example: Yahoo! music.

Amazon also allows you to choose whether you want to download their program which provides a cleaner interface to the music system, but is not required. You can still download songs straight through your browser. Also, Amazon not only "supports Linux" with the downloader program, but they really support Linux. When you go to the download page, and their site identifies your OS as Linux they provide you with options for four different distributions to make sure things go smoothly for you. The four options currently are Ubuntu 7.10, Debian 4, Fedora 8, and OpenSuSe 10.3. Below the download links there are separate instructions for each distribution, and then complete uninstall instructions as well.

I've had mixed feelings about Amazon in general in the past. I still remember the days when they were a bookstore and that was it. However, having learned about their DRM-less MP3 service which gives me 2 out of 3 of my requirements they have jumped a few notches in my book.

Move your purchases to the DRM-free system and use your money to show the companies that you don't like being told what you can or can't do with the things you purchase. I've said it on here before, and I'll say it again. Voting only counts when you do it with your money.