Before getting into this tip, I want to explain the question mark in the tip title. I do not use any online music service, so I am not really “in tune” with what the most desirable features are. That said, this tip is more of a “you might want to check this out” deal.
A site which was brought to my attention a while ago which might be of some interest to music enthusiasts is Lala. Despite the name, the concept is interesting. Quoting their “How It Works” section:
Q: Is it really free to play all of Lala’s 6 million tracks?
A: Yes, you can play any song or album once for free. No ads or clutter, all legally licensed. Lala has no subscription fees, no commitments. You only pay when you choose to buy new music.
While you may be able to listen to singles on other web sites, Lala allows you to listen to entire albums and not just previews. From there you can purchase ‘web only’ songs or a downloadable MP3.
Q: How much does it cost to buy new songs?
A: Buying music on Lala is easy and affordable. Try before you buy – listen to any song or album once in full for free. When you find something you like, add it to your online collection. Add the web song (unlimited online plays) for 10 cents, or get the MP3 download for 79 cents more. Your first 50 web songs are free! All new songs you buy are added to your web collection, together with the rest of your music.
Again, I’m not much for the online music thing, but this does seem like a pretty useful idea.
Jason Faulkner is the man who brings you our daily tips. He is based in Atlanta, Georgia.
Unfortunately it is not available internationally.
They claim to be working towards it but I think the copyright laws will stump them
Sounds like a great service for creating your own music playlists. Allowing you to listen once gives you the option to purchase the song (or not) after deciding whether you like it (or not).
Personally, for me, I’ll stick with di.fm. Free live streaming with plenty of channels and music to choose from. Only downside IMHO is that it’s like the radio – you listen to what’s played.
But still a #1 choice for me!
You forgot to mention that you can also upload music from your computer to Lala.com and then stream it to any other computer (ie work). This gives you complete portability of all your music in your hard drive.
The other great feature is that you can follow what other “friends” are listening to, and discover new music. Vice-a-versa if others listen to your music, you can be awarded points which can be redeemed for music.
The more you look at their business model, the more there is to like…