Rhapsody Vs. Yahoo! Music Vs. iTunes
The main models for listening to music online are paid downloads and ad-based or subscription-based listening. You can listen to hundreds of internet radio stations for free if you can sit through commercials. You can listen to commercial-free internet radio if you subscribe. The iTunes model is to purchase digital downloads of songs, which allows you to listen whenever you want.
Origins
Even though Apple's iTunes became the leading music downloading service by the end of the 2000s, RealNetwork's Rhapsody and Yahoo's Launchcast were founded in 1999, four years before the launch of iTunes. In 2001 Listen.com acquired Tunesto.com, which became Rhapsody. Listen.com was acquired by RealNetworks in 2003. Launch Media was founded in 1999 and was then purchased by Yahoo two years later to become Launchcast, which is now operated by CBS Radio.
iTunes Pros
The iTunes jukebox is easy to use and allows users to craft playlists with simple drag and drop functions. When you download songs from the iTunes Music Store, files are encoded in the AAC format, which compresses files but delivers better sound quality than mp3. The store allows you to listen to song samples before purchasing tracks.
iTunes Cons
Songs downloaded from iTunes can be played on other players but sometimes you have to take the extra step of converting the file format to mp3, wav or whatever is compatible with other players that do not support the AAC file type.
Rhapsody Pros
A wide song library and easy to use jukebox make Rhapsody a popular rival to iTunes. The jukebox comes with a 10 EQ band equalizer and CD burner. You can also edit playlists. Rhapsody offers different subscription packages including a free ad-supported service that allows you to listen to a limited number of songs.
Rhapsody Cons
The downside of the subscription model is that you do not get to download the songs onto your computer. You only have access to the restricted songs if you subscribe. Although Rhapsody offers music videos, you have to hunt for them yourself on artist pages.
Launchcast Pros
The new direction starting in 2009 for Launchcast is that it offers a package of over 250 pre-programmed radio stations. With the ad-based Launchcast service, subscriptions are free and you have the opportunity for unlimited listening.
Launchcast Cons
Launcast no longer allows you to program your own station, which was the case prior to its deal with CBS Radio. The listener must sit through commercials. Instead of moving toward an industry standard, CBS Radio uses its own proprietary music player that requires a Flash plug-in.
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