[ZooDog]

GREAT news, imo.  Standard tracks at 128kbps and with DRM are still .99, and can be uprgraded for .30.  The new DRM free songs encoded at 256kbps will be $1.29.  One step closer to saying goobye to CDs forever.  I expect that the other labels will follow suit quickly.   

Now if we can only get them to make lossless files available!



http://biz.yahoo.com/rb/070402/apple_emi.html?.v=2

[chgolatin2]

Good news but not good enough.  Properly recorded cd will sound better than any downloaded music, especially from the net.  Nothing beats the original cd quality, besides Vinyl.

[boead]

I just purchased and downloaded Andy McKee’s album Art of Motion from CandyRat.com (http://www.candyrat.com/artists/AndyMcKee/ArtOfMotion) and been listening to it this weekend. WOW, I really like this guy!
CandyRat.com sells unprotected MP3 (high bitrate VBR’s) that sound great!

It was really worth the $9.99 (12 songs), instant download/listening although I wished it was FLAC or WAV but still the MP3’s sound excellent, I can’t complain. 

They have a nice catalog of music including Stevie Ray Vaughn, Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck and other big names.
http://candyrat.com/artists/

[ZooDog]

Good news but not good enough.  Properly recorded cd will sound better than any downloaded music, especially from the net.  Nothing beats the original cd quality, besides Vinyl.

I'd wager that many audiophiles, myself included, would have difficulty distinguishing between a 256kbps AAC file and a CD in a blind test.  Still, I want lossless.  For me, shopping for music on iTunes is far more enjoyable than shopping in a store.  I can click and listen to a sample, buy only the tracks I want, and can find recommendations for other music based on what I have viewed and downloaded.  The best part is that I can get it right way.