Starbucks Tunes In to Digital Music

starbuckspic.jpgThe oh-so-posh Starbucks music is going digital, and how: it is going to launch an in-store music service allowing customers to do listen to music online and then burn it, BusinessWeek is reporting. The CD burning will be done using Hewlett-Packard tablet computers…

“This is not a test,” said Starbucks Chairman Howard Schultz (pictured on the right). “We’re going for it.”

Prices will be comparable to the prevelant industry standard: $6.99 for five songs, the minimum purchase. Albums will cost $12.95. To appeal to a younger set, Starbucks will ultimately offer wireless downloads to laptops or portable players.

Starbucks execs also tout this as an opportunity to introduce people to new and more obscure music and artists. At the very least, being able to listen or buy music in a Starbucks cafĂ© will enhance the company’s core business and keep customers coming back.

The first musical Starbucks opens in Santa Monica, Calif., and the service will expand into 2,500 stores over the next two years.

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