Lala.com got its start as a CD trading service, but in 2008 the company changed its business model, and since then has blossomed rather quickly into an amazing online music download service. Its popularity continues to grow, a sure sign that its doing something right.
Disclaimer: Lala.com doesn't offer free downloads, but it does offer free software (Music Mover) to upload your music collection to their site, so you can access your collection from anywhere.
With nowhere near the reach or resources of iTunes or Amazon, Lala needed some outstanding features in order to make its mark. There are a few key features that set Lala apart from all the rest.
In no particular order:
1 You can listen to any song or album in its entirety for free one time through. Most other services only give you brief 30 second clips. That's just not long enough to really get a feel for a song, or an album for that matter.
2 You can upload your entire music collection from your computer to your Lala account, and listen to all of your music online from any internet-connected device. The Music Mover software only takes MP3s for now - convert your other files if needed.
3 Lala has an impressively large (more than 6 million tracks) - and rapidly expanding - music database. Personally, I listen mostly to indie or relatively obsure music, and so I've used eMusic in the past. eMusic is an excellent service (at $0.25-$0.40/song), but Lala's indie selection is equally good, without being limited to the genre. In other words, you can download your favorite big name groups and top 40 hits from Lala too.
4 The pricing structure. Downloadable songs are typically $0.89, or $0.99 for more popular songs. But web-only songs are just $.10 - that's right - 10 cents. (And full albums are further discounted). Web-only means you can listen to them from your online Lala collection at any time, you just can't download them to your computer. If you do decide to download the song later, the price is discounted from what you've already paid.
Among the vast array of legal music download services, Lala stands out as the most flexible, user-friendly, and forward thinking of the bunch. You don't have to take my word for it -- see what Lala has to say. Now if only they would release a desktop player...
Lala Music Mover information:
| Supported OS: |   |
| Portable version: |  |
| 64-bit version: | |
| Active project: |  |
| No strings attached **: | |
** No spyware, ads, nags, registration reminders, etc.
Other Music Download services to keep an eye on:
- Amie Street
- eMusic
- Jogli - FREE
- Napster
- Spotify - FREE (ad-supported)
