Best Buy to Offer RealNetworks’ Service At Retail; Rolling Stones Gets Rolling As Well

Shoppers at the 560 Best Buy stores in the United States will be able to sign up for RealNetworks’ Rhapsody online music service. Each store will have as many as 10 interactive kiosks with Rhapsody demonstrations, and Best Buy clerks are expected to promote the service when selling computers or high-speed Internet connections.

In addition, RNWK also will have digital rights for two weeks to offer The Rolling Stones music on EMI Music’s Virgin Records. According to the company, it will be the first time that The Rolling Stones’ albums are available through a legal online music service (though I have been listening to Rolling Stones dedicated radio station for free for a while through SpinAmp for a while now…not sure what that arrangement is…I think it is the download part which is new.)

Also see, Hollywood Reporter: “The Stones’ corporate history has resulted in a lack of uniformity in the music’s usage rules.”

Update: News.com: Best Buy is not committed to using Rhapsody exclusively. Scott Young, the retail chain’s vice president of digital entertainment, said Best Buy would likely offer other co-branded digital music services over time, and could even offer a service of its own. The chain is part of the Echo consortium, which is developing a digital music infrastructure for retail stores.

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