HMV digital launches for tweenagers everywhere

STRIKE A POSE for music lovers everywhere as UK high street retailer HMV has launched an MP3 download service with singles at 40p and albums at £3.99.

Challenging the Itunes empire, HMV digital requires registration of an account and 30 second clips of songs can be listened to before purchasing.

The website has a range of musical genres including pop, rock, dance, hip hop, jazz, indie and soundtracks but oddly enough no country music. But perhaps the likes of Billy Ray Cyrus will rock up under artists of the month or on the 'hot' pre-orders list but probably not recommended. The site's homepage also has album and single top ten lists.

Once users have purchased the greatest hits of Living in a Box and Kajagoogoo they are dircected to the My Downloads section. This is where purchased downloads, past and present, are kept, which is nice as so many people have been ripped off when downloads have failed resulting in them being charged for nothing.

The website can be accessed from outside the UK also but The INQUIRER doubts it will help any UK entrant into the Eurovision song contest. Nil point. µ