Amazon AutoRip Service Offers Free MP3 Downloads Of Previously Purchased CDs

posted in: Music News

Amazon has announced a new service that grants users free MP3 downloads with any eligible CD that they purchase from the website. Once consumers have purchased an album that is eligible for the new AutoRip service, Amazon grants them access to an automatic digital version in Amazon’s Cloud Player that is playable from mobile devices. AutoRip will also allow users to access MP3 versions of albums bought off of Amazon since 1998 if they contain AutoRip-eligible songs. At this moment, about 50,000 songs are eligible for the AutoRip service, with more expected to be added. While AutoRip is currently only available in the United States, Amazon does plan to expand the service internationally throughout 2013.

In the past few years, most new vinyl releases have come with digital download cards as well, but the same service has been slow to take hold with CDs, as their already digital-friendly format seems to preclude the need for a corresponding digital download. With AutoRip, though, Amazon circumvents the entire ripping and syncing process, and allows users instant access from all devices. Sweet.

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