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Facebook?s iLike to open online store?

by on22 July 2009

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Like, iLike to beat down iTunes and MySpace

iLike, Facebook’s popular music source, is reportedly in talks with several major music labels (four is the rumor) to open a download store. iLike.com, based in Seattle, Washington is hoping to open its online store within the next month and to reach final agreement with at least three of the top record studios.

iLike currently has 30-second music clips posted on its Website in which listeners can listen to new artist songs and blog about the music. It also has a Playlist beta currently available.  The site posts local music events that are upcoming as well as ticket information. A spokeswoman for iLike said: "iLike engages in ongoing discussions with the labels about a variety of ways we might work together. While we don't discuss the specifics...I can tell you that our goal remains the same: to facilitate music discovery and consumption across the Web."

There are few details as to what the iLike download store may offer, but the music will likely (no pun intended) be in MP3 format and, of course, will not be free. iLike reportedly has 50 million users, but does not currently offer more than short music clips. Music must be purchased from iTunes or other places on the Web that sell music. iLike is hopeful that it can sell music directly by cutting deals with the record companies and eliminate the iTunes type middlemen.

iLike has competitors who are already offering downloads with full streaming music. MySpace has had full streaming tunes and downloads from all four major record labels since last September. Another known as Imeem has a download store in beta test with music from Warner Music Group and many independent companies currently.

iLike partnered with Rhapsody previously to sell individual songs, but the deal fizzled and never got off the ground. iLike will have its work cut out for it, as the record labels do not want online music stores to piggyback on each others’ music offerings.

Last modified on 22 July 2009
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