Play.com Starts Selling Downloads

The company has inked a deal with EMI and says more majors coming later.

So yes, there’s yet another entrant in the music download market – it’s reaching the point where it’s becoming uncomfortably crowded these days.   The new kid on theblock is online retailer Play.com, which might well have added the service to keep up with its rival Amazon. It’s inked adeal with giant label EMI to make track available for download without any digital rights management (DRM), according to the BBC.   Apple’s iTunes has EMI back-catalogue material available DRM-free, but thevast majority of its offerings are still covered by DRM.   Play.com has said it will offer individual tracks for around $1.30 and full albums for approximately $10, making it a cheaper UK optionthan iTunes. It expects to have deals in place with other major labels by the middle of the year.