Yahoo unveiled Wednesday the beta version of Yahoo Music Unlimited, a new music subscription service with a catalog of more than a million songs.
The service will allow users to play tunes from the catalog, transfer tracks to portable devices, or share music with friends through Yahoo's instant messaging application.
The service will also let users create personalized music libraries online, buy permanent downloads, as well as listen to Internet radio stations. Yahoo is featuring an introductory price for US$4.99 per month for a one-year subscription, or $6.99 on a month-to-month basis.
Community Center
With a wealth of digital music options available, Yahoo has distinguished its service by touting its community aspect and user controls.
"Yahoo Music Unlimited draws on the best of Yahoo to provide personalization and community features unlike anything else in the marketplace," said Lloyd Braun, head of the Yahoo Media Group, in a statement.
Competitive Space
Yahoo's entry into the digital music scene is likely to make a hot market even hotter, and some analysts predict that Microsoft 's MSN and Amazon.com are due to follow Yahoo's lead.
Although record labels and artists are wrangling with P2P sites about copyright and piracy concerns, the tussles are not affecting the music industry's eagerness to ally with legitimate sites like Yahoo.
"Now that the record companies are on board, the industry is really taking off," said IDC analyst Roger Kay. Labels were not as keen on putting their music online even just a few years ago, when they were trying to bring down the early version of Napster.
But the success of Apple's iTunes Music Store, as well as other digital music shops, proved convincing, Kay added.
Wide Appeal
It is possible that Yahoo's new service will introduce the digital music market to people who have not yet explored song downloads.
With a wide audience, Yahoo might be able to capture less technologically-savvy individuals than those who visit iTunes or Napster.
"There's a comfort level with digital music for many online users, but not all yet," said Kay. "But, as the industry becomes more sophisticated, the audience should expand."
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