Wal-Mart takes on iTunes, others with online music site

[villager]

Wal-Mart takes on iTunes, others with online music site


By Chuck Bartels
Associated Press

Little Rock, Ark. — Wal-Mart Stores Inc. on Thursday launched a bare-bones Web site to test its new 88-cent-per-song online music service, hoping its cheaper price will lure listeners with credit cards from its more expensive competitors.

Other sites, such as Apple's iTunes, charge 99 cents a song.

The Wal-Mart site has "hundreds of thousands" of songs, available in Windows Media Audio format, which can be transferred to compatible portable devices, burned to a CD or played on Windows-compatible PCs, Wal-Mart said.

The company plans to see what customers like and don't like about the service in the months ahead and formally launch it in spring 2004.

<snip -- but here's the kicker:>

Lin also said the site will abide by the same content format as found on CD racks in Wal-Mart stores, which don't sell music with content the company deems offensive. On the Web site, the company notes that some songs are flagged as "edited."


Undercut -- and turn to vanilla. More here:

http://www.news-leader.com/today/1219-WalMarttak-247627.html

[bluestateguy]

1. I won't buy

I'll pay more from other web services to avoid Wal-Mart's corporate fascism.

[The Zanti Regent]

9. Wow, what choice...

Gee, what's in their selection besides Mannheim Steamroller (Rush's favorite), the Osmonds and 8,000 versions of God Bless the USA?

[La_Serpiente]

2. I refuse to buy from Wal Mart

[villager]

3. yeah, all we need is Wal-Mart...

...and Microsoft teaming up to control all web content!

[joeunderdog]

8. Fuck Walmart

They symbolize everything I'm against. I shop at BJ's and Costco where they treat their employees well.

[LiberalBushFan]

4. not even in mp3 format

so you have to use windows media player to hear it, and converting to mp3 is a high pain. I hope it doesn't fly.

[Melodybe]

5. No thanks I actually like the unedited version of my favorite songs

I love curse words, discent, any dissing of the man, so screw Wally World!

Our Ipod and Itunes rock!!!! Our lastest purchase Frank Black and the Catholics' new album Show Me Your Tears. It fucking rulz, one of the best albums all year! When Will Happiness Find Me Again is the best song and it actuallly might get some airplay.

[villager]

7. preferring unedited songs...

...may soon come to be termed an "undesirable tendency..."

[Don Claybrook]

6. Why would it fly

...with KaZaa and LimeWire and the like being so prevalent? I think a large number of Americans have developed a special hatred of the RIAA, their greed, and their record company clients.

So ask people: would you rather pay 88 or 99 cents per song, or would you rather get the song free, and at the same time, kick the RIAA in the ribs while you're at it?

I don't know how likely you'd be to get an honest answer, but I think I know what the real answer would be in the majority of cases.

[Chico Man]

13. I'd rather buy the CD

If I'm going to pay for music, give it to me in a quality format. Until these services start distributing compressed WAVs, I'll stay far away.

[htuttle]

16. Sometimes if you're looking for one particular song

It's a whole hell of a lot easier to just go to the Apple music store and buy it for a buck (hell, a 20 oz bottle of soda is a buck). If it saves you 30-60 min (or more) looking for something specific, it's worth a dollar.

I find that the people I'm aware of (without personally admitting any liability or guilt of a 'crime') often use both gnutella/limewire and the iTunes music store.

[Chico Man]

12. I wouldn't use MP3 or windows media for that matter

I want my music in a pure form. Give me compressed WAVs. Screw loss-promoting audio distribution. Use Shorten or other lossless forms of audio compression and distribution.

[Fitzovich]

10. Don't Shop Walmart!

Please don't shop at Wal Mart via any vehicle they offer, online brick and mortar. Also please go to working for change website and sign their petition against Wal Mart. www.workingforchange.com/activism/petition

[onehandle]

11. Bite me Crapmart! iTunes rules! nt

[schultzee]

14. Boycott these slave wagers, and Home Depot too.

[OldSoldier]

21. We're not "slave wagers"

Home Depot is the best-paying mass merchandiser--our starting salary is about 175 to 200 percent of what Wal-Mart is paying.

[Cooley Hurd]

15. Wal-Mart is corporate fascism at its worst...

Do they actually believe they have the right to censor content that they believe is offensive? I'll never buy a goddamn thing from them again. Not even a shoelace! :grr:

I'll stick with my iPod and iTunes - Steve Jobs is a good Democrat:
(from opensecrets.org)
JOBS, STEPHEN P
WALNUT CREEK,CA 94596
APPLE COMPUTER/CHAIRMAN
8/30/2001
$1,000
Emanuel, Rahm

JOBS, STEVE
WALNUT CREEK,CA 94596
APPLE COMPUTERS
11/1/2000
$50,000
DNC/Non-Federal Individual

JOBS, STEVEN MR
PALO ALTO,CA 94301
APPLE COMPUTER/PIXAR ANIMATION STUD
3/17/1999
$500
Bradley, Bill

JOBS, STEVEN P
WALNUT CREEK,CA 94596
APPLE COMPUTER
1/10/2000
$4,000
Cmte for a Democratic Majority

JOBS, STEVEN P
WALNUT CREEK,CA 94596
APPLE COMPUTER
1/10/2000
$4,000
Cmte for a Democratic Majority

JOBS, STEVEN P
WALNUT CREEK,CA 94956
APPLE COMPUTER
12/30/1999
$1,000
Kennedy, Edward M

[Ivote]

17. MR BIZ

Was just talking about this With Doug Stephan at www.ieamerica.com

[sendero]

18. I'll be surprised...

.... if this works out for them. They clearly do not understand their market, nobody is going to buy censored versions of anything.

11 cents is not going to be enough to overcome the hugely bad (no mp3?) decisions they've made.

I liken this to when an actor/actress goes into making music thinking that since they can act they must have musical talent. Haven't seen it happen yet :)

[private_ryan]

19. that's why I will never use them

edited versions always suck.

[alfredo]

20. All their songs are in Chinese with English subtitles.

N/T