Amazon AutoRip offers free MP3 copies of album purchases
updated 10:58 am EST, Thu January 10, 2013
Downloadable album tracks for albums bought in last 15 years
Amazon has started offering MP3 versions of CDs bought through the retailer. AutoRip will provide users a digital copy of specific albums bought on Amazon, not only for future purchases, but also for any albums bought from a list of over 50,000 by customers in the 15 years since Amazon first opened its Music Store.
Compatible albums will be listed with the AutoRip logo, and will automatically be added to the customer's Cloud Player library where it can then be downloaded as 256Kbps bitrate MP3 files. AutoRip albums will also be stored for free in the Cloud Player library, without using any of the storage limit, and can also be played using the Cloud Player app on various devices. Albums purchased from Amazon since 1998 that are covered by the AutoRip scheme will be automatically added to their digital locker.
Midway last year, Amazon added a scan-and-match feature for importing songs into the Cloud Player. The addition of AutoRip could help Amazon woo customers away from the iTunes music store and onto their own MP3 service, or to encourage the purchase of CD albums on the store with the promise of a faster delivery of the music than waiting for a package via post.
