Enjoying music online

Article By: Hadlee Simons

While nothing beats the tangible feeling of owning a CD, there’s a whole world of music on the internet for you to discover. Whether it’s streaming or paid downloads, there are quite a few decent options to be had.

Streaming music

If you’re content with listening to music online and not purchasing the tracks, there are some cool websites out there. One such website is Jango, which allows you to create your own stations featuring your favourite musicians as well as similar artists.

We7.com is another similar website, with users also able to request new songs and albums. And if you like what you’re hearing, there’s the convenient “buy” button right next to the music player.

Another cool streaming website we’ve featured before is Grooveshark. It differentiates itself from everyone else by boasting a sleek interface and allowing you to upload your entire library. The result is that you’ll often get a variety of the same song – ideal for those looking for audio from that specific concert…

Paying for music

While streaming music is a great concept, you can’t keep them permanently – but that’s where paid downloads come in. While Apple is still the king of music downloads thanks to iTunes, there are a few websites that are more convenient locally.

Nokia’s Ovi Music Store might just be the most popular option right now, considering the legions of Nokia owners in the country. But the best part about the store is that you can purchase and download DRM-free music from any device – not just a Nokia phone. In a smart move, you can also purchase vouchers from stores such as CNA.

DStv has also gone into the music business with its OMusic service. The site allows you to download DRM-free MP3s from R8 to R12 per track, while albums cost anything from R99 to R149. Unfortunately, you’re only allowed to use your credit card, with no EFTs, vouchers or charges to your DStv account being supported.