UK music fans 'frustrated' by download sites
25 April 2005
UK consumers are becoming increasingly frustrated by restrictions placed on them by online download sites.
According to PC Pro magazine, people are being turned off downloading digital music tracks by pricing structures and disappointing sound quality.
Legal downloads currently account for just two per cent of the music market and the UK's official singles chart included sales of legal tracks for the first time last week. Legal music downloads are becoming increasingly popular, however, and the market is growing rapidly.
PC Pro's Nick Ross said: "What people don't understand is that when they buy an iPod or other digital music player, they're being tied into a system.
"Many of our readers have already been caught out, buying tracks but being unable to play them on their player."
PC Pro said it received so many complaints via email from consumers that it decided to test and compare the main online download services.
The magazine claims that people are becoming dissatisfied with digital rights management system (DRM) restrictions on tracks, particularly if the price is similar to buying a CD. DRM is designed to control and prevent the illegal copying and distribution of files.
Apple's online iTunes music store is currently being investigated by the European Commission for charging UK customers more than in France and Germany.
Some online download sites use the MP3 format or Microsoft's WMA format, Real has its own AAC format and Apple iTunes uses AAC and its own FairPlay DRM. Apple reportedly has an 87 per cent share of the market for portable digital music players, according to market research firm NPD Group. Apple users are becoming annoyed that iPods can only play songs downloaded from iTunes.
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