8.15.2006

Yahoo! Music

I finally started experimenting with Yahoo! Music and I have to say, I'm amazed. The concept is this: (1) For $4.99 a month, you can search and listen to basically any song you want on your computer (or home networked computer). Want to listen to every song on REM's 1988 Eponymous album? Bam, there it is. There is hardly a one second pause before the music comes flowing. I cannot stress enough how large the library of music is. (2) For an extra small monthly flat charge, you can download all the songs you want (unlimited number) to play on your MP3 player. (3) If you want to download the songs to burn to a CD (and keep them "forever") the charge is 79 cents a song. (4) By ranking songs and artists you like, Yahoo! Music begins to suggest bands to you that you've never heard of - and you'll love 'em. (5) Throw in an Internet radio package which has 150 commercial free stations, and you've got yourself a heck of a deal. (Even odder: Yahoo "creates" a radio station designed just for you based upon your music rankings). The Yahoo site is here. A PC Magazine review of the service is here. (3)