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Lala launches online music store with its head in the clouds
You can download albums or individual tracks of DRM-free music from Lala just as you can from iTunes or Amazon MP3. The company has worked out deals with all of the major labels plus a bunch of independent artists. So while not you might not be able to find every song you're looking for, there's plenty to choose from. Individual tracks run from around $.80 to $.99.
But here's what makes Lala different. The website features a built in music player. You can listen to any song on the site for free. Once. If you want to listen again, you have to pay $.10 for a "web song." You can then listen to that track any time you want from any internet connected device that can access the website. In other words, you can buy some albums for a buck or less, as long as you don't feel the need to download the music.
To get you started, all users get 50 free credits for web songs. So you can check out the service without paying a dime. You do need to register for an account, but you don't have to give up any credit card or PayPal information, so you won't accidentally buy something without knowing about it.
So far so good. But there are a few problems. First, the service is only available in the US. Second, while the downloaded tracks are DRM-free, the web tracks can only be listened to on Lala. If the company goes under next year and you've spent $100 on web songs, I doubt anyone's going to refund your money. Sure, you could download MP3 versions of all the songs. Your $.10 per song will go towar the purchase price. But that means you'd have to pay as much as $900 just to save backup copies of the songs you've already paid for in this hypothetical example.
Finally, there are plenty of other ways to listen to music online - for free. If you want to go the legal route, there are ad-supported services like MySpace Music. And if you don't care so much about legalities, there are services like SeeqPod. While Lala does offer a nice interface and a decent music library, it's hard to compete with free.
Comments
6
Subscribe to commentsJash SayaniOct 21st 2008 10:22AM
Read about Lala on Engadget, but this post explains it better...
I think its better to spend a bit more on iTunes rather than spending on Lala and being dependent on Lala for the music playback and if the site shuts back, the whole thing would be a waste.!!
ClintOct 21st 2008 10:37AM
On the article I read (I forgot which site already), they mentioned that Lala can scan your local MP3s and add those to your Lala web-playable content. That's an interesting way to get you a way to play your music anywhere.
That feature grabbed my eye at least.
AlbertOct 21st 2008 11:17AM
Jash - You're dependent on iTunes in that way as well. If Apple shuts down the service, then you won't be able to authorize new computers when you want to move your files.
Amazon MP3 and other services that sell files free of DRM are better choices if your concern is continued access.
mer2329Oct 21st 2008 1:10PM
just to add Lala also still offers their trading service as well as something like 50 free web songs
JPowersOct 21st 2008 2:59PM
Holy crap this site is awesome. Thanks for the post. I just signed up. 50 free web songs, .10 for all additional, great UI, ability to upload songs into the cloud and listen them where ever you are, awesome social networking features, etc. I have a feeling this is going to be big.
rbOct 21st 2008 4:36PM
Let me repeat with Albert and Clint are saying.
The MP3's you download are DRM free!
You can also scan your existing library with lala and they allow you to listen to the music you already own via the web for free... essentially visualizing your mp3 collection.
These are wonderful features and cheaper than most other DRM free solutions.