Friday, July 18th, 2008
How to Buy Music Online in Singapore?
There’s practically no online options to buy songs in MP3 format legally in Singapore (except the highly questionable Russian websites). And the delay in opening of iTunes store for Singapore is not helping the situation either. This simply means that owners of iPod as well as some portable music players and mobile phones, do not have any direct means to buy music online in Singapore! Fortunately, there is a still way (albeit a bit more work for some) for ALL in Singapore to purchase and enjoy music legally.
For WMA-Supported Players
Soundbuzz and Nokia Music Store are one of the very few websites allowing you to buy music online in Singapore. However, they distribute music in “protected WMA format” which can only be played on WMA-Supported devices such as Creative portable music players.
For iPod and Other MP3 Players
While “Protected WMA format” cannot be converted by iTunes for iPod and are not accepted in some portable music players, Soundbuzz and Nokia Music Store do allow you to burn the songs that you have purchased into an audio CD. With the audio CD, you can either choose to transfer it to your iPod using iTunes or rip it to MP3 format which can be played in almost all music devices.
Learn how to burn the songs into an audio CD & convert Protected WMA to MP3.
Alternative Option for iPod Owners (use at your own risk)
There is itunesgiftcard.blogspot.com that claims to help customers to obtain US, UK, Australia, Japan and Denmark iTunes gift certificates which can be used to buy music online in Singapore from iTunes store. The website accepts PayPal payment and bank transfer payment from Singaporeans.
Before You Go On A Buying Spree
Remember that you have a choice. Before deciding on whether to buy music online in Singapore, you can always stream and listen to full length songs on imeem.com or check out the free music downloads section on MP3.com where you can listen to an entire “Rihanna – Good Girl Gone Bad” album for free!
Latest Update (August 08):
Motorola has launched MotoMusic Store in Singapore. Fundamentally, it is similar to Soundbuzz (which has been acquired by Motorola) in terms of pricing and functionalities.
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- Posted in Lifestyle & Entertainment
3 Responses to How to Buy Music Online in Singapore?
suggit
September 8th, 2011 at 9:58 pm
This is the reason why people pirate music. I would buy buy music here in Singapore, but its just too bad that there are no legit options online and the cd shops are terrible; therefore, I have a completely valid reason to torrent music. I just don’t understand why there are no good online options, even the ones mentioned in this article are pretty bad imo. If I have no options, I shouldn’t be able to be punished as harshly as Singaporean law does. I can’t even say how much this whole thing pisses me off. Even the radio here is complete bullsh1t. Singapore is really not the best place for music.
Yang Peiqi
October 12th, 2011 at 11:05 am
It’s a nighmare buying original music in Singapore. Call copyright owners and the respond is lackluster. Email the alleged distributors, no response. It is incorrect for the laws to punish bootleg distributors. They rave up competition. That’s good for customers.
Frustrated, customers may buy pirated music though the quality may not be as good. I feel sorry for the artists. The copy right owners are not doing enough. What a raw deal?
Dann
October 19th, 2011 at 11:20 pm
Talking about downloading from a website for legit MP3 download is as good as waiting for snow to fall in Singapore. CD shops around Singapore are mostly shit ass quality (even the largest HMV does not cater ALL songs). Then comes to copyright problem. Those people from Intellectual Property Copyright are another bunch of losers (probably some of them also download via Torrent sites) who says we all should not download illegally. Well, out of 10 household in Singapore, there’s a probability of 10 of 10 who download any forms of media every second. iTunes (Steve I know you are dead) but if you can hear us, please make a legit songs on ALL iTunes websites around the globe. We don’t mind paying USD$0.99 per song as it’s worth every cent. It’s better than forcing us to find another alternative. Since back in the States, downloading MP3 via iTunes is such a success, why not make it a legit on all iTunes websites. I am pretty sure all the artiste would be more than please to have their songs purchase legally right?