Download platform launch anyone? HMV UK formally launched its new download platform yesterday, with the service itself due to go live on Monday.
No real surprises with regards how the service will work, with most of the details revealed at that presentation to the indie sector earlier this year. As expected, the HMV Digital service is based around a bespoke player, the HMV Digital Player, through which customers can download, play and file their music. Also as expected, customers can either buy individual tracks via an iTunes-type pay-per-download system, or they can get access to the whole HMV catalogue via a monthly Napster-style subscription offer.
Perhaps the biggest difference between the HMV service and those supplied by the other big players in the download market is that there is no standard price for individual downloads. The cost of each track will vary according to what the record label wants to charge. This is good for the record labels who only reluctantly accepted iTunes one-price-for-all rule, and is arguably good for consumers in that they will probably be able to download tracks from newer artists for considerably less than iTunes' 79 pence charge. However, it could be argued iTunes strength is in its simplicity, and variable pricing makes a download platform more confusing to use.
Launching the new service, HMV UK MD Steve Knott told reporters: "HMV has a track record of embracing new technologies and always being part of the process of change. We have sold every available music format since we opened our doors in 1921, and are dedicated to offering our customers specialist access to the widest selection of recorded music through whichever medium or format they require. While downloading is still in its infancy, we believe that now is the right time to fully establish HMV's presence in this market. Our research shows that although customers remain very keen to buy and own CDs for the foreseeable future, many are also ready to start downloading for the first time and we are eager to cater to this demand."
The back end of the HMV download service is powered by MusicNet. Their CEO Alan McGlade told reporters: "MusicNet was built on the premise of enabling major global brands such as HMV with the ability to expand their consumer relationships through a compelling, customised digital music service. We are very pleased to have HMV as a premier European partner and are confident that their customers will soon discover that HMV Digital will deliver their favourite music when and how they want it." Presumably Alan can reuse that speech today, switching any references to 'HMV' to 'Virgin' - MusicNet, of course, are also the back end service providers to the Virgin Digital platform, which launches later today.