Great news for those of you who are making the transition from CDs to digital music, or those who use both formats: Amazon has announced its new Auto-rip service for CDs. From Amazon’s press release:
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SEATTLE–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Jan. 10, 2013– (NASDAQ: AMZN)—Amazon today announced the launch of Amazon AutoRip, a new service that gives customers free MP3 versions of CDs they purchase from Amazon. When customers purchase AutoRip CDs, the MP3 versions are automatically added to their Cloud Player libraries, where they are available, free of charge, for immediate playback or download – no more waiting for the CD to arrive. Additionally, customers who have purchased AutoRip CDs at any time since Amazon first opened its Music Store in 1998 will find MP3 versions of those albums in their Cloud Player libraries – also automatically and for free. More than 50,000 albums, including titles from every major record label, are available for AutoRip, and more titles are added all the time – customers can just look for the AutoRip logo.
AutoRip features include:
• Free digital copies: Amazon customers who purchase AutoRip CDs get free MP3 versions of the albums delivered directly to their Cloud Player libraries – automatically, immediately, and at no cost – no more hassling with ripping CDs and finding a way to get them onto your favorite devices.
• For CD purchases dating back to 1998: MP3 versions of AutoRip CDs that customers have purchased since the launch of Amazon’s music store in 1998 will also be delivered to their Cloud Player libraries for free.
• Enjoy everywhere: Music can be played instantly from any Kindle Fire, Android phone or tablet, iPhone, iPod touch, Samsung TVs, Roku, Sonos, and any web browser, giving customers the freedom to enjoy music from more devices than any other major cloud locker music service.
• Free storage and backup: All AutoRip MP3s are stored for free in customers’ Cloud Player libraries and do not count against Cloud Player storage limits. Customers can buy music and know that it is safely stored in Cloud Player and accessible from any compatible device.
• High-quality audio: AutoRip music is provided in high-quality 256 Kbps MP3 audio.
AutoRip is available for industry-wide top-sellers like “21” by Adele; new and recent releases like “¡Uno!”, “¡Dos!” and “¡Tre!” by Green Day, “Overexposed” by Maroon 5, and “The Truth About Love” by P!nk; classics like “Dark Side of the Moon” by Pink Floyd and “Thriller” by Michael Jackson; and Amazon customer favorites like “I Dreamed A Dream” by Susan Boyle, which was the most pre-ordered album of all time on Amazon.
In many cases, customers can buy an AutoRip CD, including the free digital copy, for less than they would pay for only the digital album at iTunes.
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Actually, after perusing the catalog of Auto-rip CDs, we’ve found it frequently costs the same or less to buy the Auto-rip CD (and get the MP3 album free) than it does to buy the MP3 album alone. For example, all of the following Auto-rip CDs currently cost the same or less than buying the MP3 album alone:
Adele – 21 ($9.99 for Auto-rip CD, $10.99 for MP3 album)
One Direction – Take Me Home ($10.99 for Auto-rip CD, $11.99 for MP3 album)
Taylor Swift – Red ($11.99 for Auto-rip CD, $12.99 for MP3 album)
Mumford & Sons – Sigh No More ($8.99 for Auto-rip CD, $8.99 for MP3 album)
Fun. – Some Nights ($7.99 for Auto-rip CD, $7.99 for MP3 album)
Alicia Keys – Girl on Fire ($10.99 for Auto-rip CD, $11.99 for MP3 album)
Pink – The Truth About Love ($7 for Auto-rip CD, $7.99 for MP3 album)
Paul Simon – Graceland ($9 for Auto-rip CD, $9.99 for MP3 album)
There are many, MANY more examples. Click here to browse all Auto-rip CDs and see for yourself!
With Auto-Rip, the next time you’re in the market for an album you won’t have to choose between CD and MP3. Just check to see if there’s an Auto-rip CD available, and if so, get the Auto-rip edition and you’ll have the CD for your car or home stereo, plus the MP3 album for your portable player, Kindle Fire and computer, at no extra charge!
Even if you’ve gone all-digital with music, if you’re an Amazon Prime member be sure to compare prices between the Auto-rip CD and MP3 album versions going forward when you shop for music. If buying the Auto-rip will save you a buck or two, why not go for the Auto-rip order and get a pre-made CD “backup” shipped to you (at no charge, as a Prime member) at the same time?
Click here for more details on Auto-zip, along with some introductory videos.