HMVdigital targets iTunes
High Street retailer HMV is taking on the digital might of iTunes with the launch of its rival music download service.
HMVdigital will attempts to claw back market share from Apple by offering any single in the UK top 40 for 40p and more than 10 million songs will be included on the service at launch.
The service marks HMV’s second attempt to gain a toehold in the market following an abortive 2005 download service from its website. This failed to get off the ground as downloads would only work with Windows Media Player.
Learning from those mistakes the new service will be compatible with any MP3 Player, including Apple iPods and users will be able to re-download past purchases.
Last September HMV acquired a 50% stake in 7digital, the company provides software to Spotify which allows users to purchase songs played on the music streaming service via a single click.