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February 7, 2005 8:54 AM PST

MSN Music to offer free songs

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Microsoft's MSN Music on Monday announced it would offer free downloads of some songs in the running for Grammy awards this year.

From Tuesday through Saturday, the company will offer one download per day. The songs will be selected by the editorial team at MSN Music, which will pick the tracks they think will win the Grammy in several categories.

On Tuesday, MSN will offer its picks for best pop vocal performance, male and female. The following four days, the company will give away its choice for the "best song" in four categories: rock (on Wednesday), rap (Thursday), R&B (Friday), and country (Saturday).

The music download market is dominated by Apple Computer's iTunes store. In a bid to challenge this domination, Microsoft last year launched its music service. Both companies offer songs for 99 cents each.

MSN said that only one free song download will be allowed per person per day. The offer is open to U.S. residents who are at least 18 years old. Microsoft also said music fans will need to sign up for an MSN music account and provide a credit card number.

The Grammys will be doled out on Feb. 13. Click here to see a list of nominees.

See more CNET content tagged:
MSN, song, Apple Computer, Microsoft Corp.

Add a Comment (Log in or register) 6 comments
woopy doo
by xpgeek February 7, 2005 9:24 AM PST
One song, and you have to sign up for an account with a credit card to get it. Its a scam to get new members.
Reply to this comment
Big deal, like nobody has heard of free music?
by bobby_brady February 7, 2005 9:38 AM PST
No way, I can find whatever I want on Edonkey or Piolet without having to disclose credit card info. The music industry is bloated and has ripped off the consumer for far too long. They've paid off politicians to prevent anti-trust lawsuits against them.
Reply to this comment
iTunes had 1 free song/week for over a year
by zarathustra911 February 7, 2005 10:13 AM PST
Apple has been offering a free song/week for a long time now.
Maybe a year or more.

Another "revolutionary" idea by Microsoft.
Reply to this comment
Which format? Ogg Vorbis? MP3?
by JLP February 7, 2005 1:34 PM PST
In which format will they be available? I hope
it will be the excellent Ogg Vorbis or at least
MP3. If it is this crappy WMA it is just not
worth the trouble.
Reply to this comment
Credit Card?
by February 7, 2005 4:54 PM PST
That's cool... but why do they need your Credit Card info if the downloads are free?

http://allwaysmusic.modblog.com/

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Reply to this comment
Free ipod a scam too?
by February 7, 2005 6:35 PM PST
Those free ipod givaways are not a scam. Gratis Networks (http://tinyurl.com/3nq6r), who run one of those sites, actually earn a living from the sign ups (which are easy to cancel). They were featured on a recent episode of NetTv. Check out these stories:

www.geek.com/news/geeknews/2004Aug/gee20040819026544.htm
Reply to this comment
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