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Puretracks Is Canada�s Answer to iTunes


10-14-03 Keavin
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Good news for our friends up north. Puretracks is hoping to be the Canadian answer to iTunes. The new pay-as-go download music service was launched on Tuesday (Oct 14) and features a unique Canadian flavor in addition to the international musical heavy-weight titles. 

"We're delivering to Canadians ... that means international repertoire, but that also means Canadian repertoire, and we're making a concerted effort to make sure we have a strong roster of Canadian talent in the mix," co-chief executive Alistair Mitchell was quoted in a report from Forbes online.

Puretracks has adopted the business model of Apples popular iTunes Music store by offering songs as individual download. A formula the new Napster also offers and like the new pay version of Napster Puretracks will offer full album downloads. 

Puretracks song downloads will vary in price from C$0.99 to C$1.39. Albums will be available for C$9.99 to C$13.99.

One problem with other services has been younger music fans without credit cards could not participate. To tackle this issue, Puretracks will be offering cash cards for sale at retail outlets. 

The Canadian branches of the leading music labels see the potential and have extended licensing agreements to Puretracks. Those labels include BMG Canada, EMI Music Canada, Sony Music Canada, Universal Music Canada and Warner Music Canada.

It�s been a big week for pay for download services. Roxio launched the beta of the new Napster last week (see story) and Apple is expected to announce iTunes for Windows on Thursday (Oct 16 - see story).  .