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CNET launches free music download service
Reuters, 04.26.04, 9:00 AM ET

LOS ANGELES, April 26 (Reuters) - Online technology company CNET Networks Inc. (nasdaq: CNET - news - people) on Monday launched a free digital music service, allowing users to search and download what it said were thousands of songs contributed by independent and unsigned artists.

The service, based on CNET's Download.com Web site (http://music.download.com), has been collecting music for the past few weeks, encouraging musicians to register on the site and upload their songs.

The music download service will be separate from the MP3.com Web site, which CNET has said it will relaunch soon as a music information site.

The former MP3.com, which CNET acquired late last year, offered similar functions to those in the new music download platform. Many artists and fans of the site complained when CNET closed it down, fearing that hundreds of thousands of songs would be lost permanently.

CNET said it plans to add new technology and community features to its download service, which it intends to be the largest free music download platform. over the course of the year.

Pay-for-download services have become the hottest trend in digital music, with one, Apple Computer Inc.'s (nasdaq: AAPL - news - people) iTunes music store, having sold 50 million downloads in less than a year.

Copyright 2004, Reuters News Service