From MySpace to AOL, the list of would-be iTunes rivals is getting longer, but don’t expect them to knock Apple from its perch just yet
There’s a lot of buzz of late about new iTunes competitors that aim to change how you download music for portable devices. Haven’t heard it? Turn down your iPod.
On Sept. 5, News Corp.’s (NWS) MySpace is announcing a partnership with digital music service Snocap that will let artists sell music directly to consumers through their MySpace pages. Buyers will then be able to transfer songs to any music player, including Apple’s (AAPL) iPod (see BusinessWeek.com, 9/3/06, “MySpace’s Musical End Run”).
That news followed a Sept. 1 announcement by Samsung that it will offer downloads through an online partner and came days after Time Warner’s (TWX) AOL unveiled a new service the same day Universal Music Group said it’s teaming with SpiralFrog.com to offer free ad-supported downloads.
