amazon mp3 vs. itunes music store

I have exactly ONE Amazon MP3 purchase to use in comparison against over 1,500 total tracks bought from iTunes music store.  However, if this experience is any indication; Amazon will be seeing a lot more of me.  By ‘me’ I of course mean ‘my money’.

Item;  Royksopp “What Else Is there?” single

Price:

Amazon MP3: $5.99
iTunes store: $6.99

Format:

Amazon MP3: Non-DRM MP3 (ALL Amazon MP3 items are sold DRM free)
iTunes store: Non-DRM AAC (this is an “iTunes Plus” item, which is offered DRM free.  Much of iTunes’ back catalog is NOT available in this non-DRM format)
Purchasing:

Amazon MP3: Already having an Amazon Prime account, I was able to download a small application that facilitates the file transfer and then use “1-click” shopping to purchase using an existing, on file credit card.
iTunes store: It would have been the normal, easy to use shopping cart selection –> confirm download process I’ve enjoyed countless times prior.

Downloading / Adding to my iTunes library:

Amazon MP3: Speed seemed identical to iTunes experiences, bonus?  The Amazon download app automatically recognizes where your music library is located (be it iTunes, Windows media, etc) and copies the files there.  No need to do seperate import later.
iTunes store:  Obviously, downloads directly into my library

Conclusion; I paid less for DRM-free music.  The convenience factor was almost identical to that of my trusty iTunes store.  I will most definitely use Amazon MP3 again.  Once their catalog size increases, perhaps I’ll use it exclusively.

Additional info from KansasCity.com:

Amazon MP3 is as easy to use as any other part of Amazon’s online store. You can search for specific artists or browse by music genre if you prefer. The store has a catalog of more than 2 million songs (for comparison, the iTunes store has more than 6 million songs) with more tunes added regularly. And of course, it features Amazon’s trademarked 1-Click purchasing system, so once you log on to the site and establish an account profile, buying is as simple as a press of a mouse button.

In addition, the store also offers the Amazon MP3 Downloader, a desktop application that seamlessly transfers your purchases to your iTunes or Windows Media Player music library. (The application is required for album purchases.)

Another area where Amazon MP3 stands out is in its pricing. Whereas the iTunes Store offers songs at a flat rate of $0.99 per file, Amazon MP3 has a variable pricing structure, with most selling between $0.89 and $0.99. Albums also follow this pattern, varying in price between $5.99 and $9.99 (iTunes usually charges $9.99).