NEW YORK (CNET announcement) - CNET Networks, Inc., a premier global interactive content company, today launched the MP3.com Web site, a comprehensive, next-generation digital music discovery and content resource that caters to the way people learn about and listen to music today.
Digital music and devices have given people more control than ever over their music choices, by changing the way they discover, buy, and listen to music.
By 2006, $1.2 billion dollars worth of music will be downloaded legally, with 11 million households subscribing to a paid music service.
The technologies and services have arrived, and music fans are eager to take advantage of them, particularly the youth market: 52 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds, and 69 percent of US College students have already downloaded music.
While the Internet is replete with music sites that serve virtually all interests - editorial resources, music and product reviews, fan clubs, music download services, and more - until now, there has been no single resource dedicated to helping people find the best of everything.
MP3.com is designed to fill this void, putting music fans at the center of the universe of digital music content, where they can instantly find what they need. Its elegant interface prioritizes discovery, putting the vast cosmos of artists, songs, services and technologies at their fingertips in a friendly and organic way based on their interests. Launching today with robust features and functionality (see details below), MP3.com will add a number of innovative community and personalization features this year, and adapt its content in response to user feedback and changes in the digital music marketplace.
"The launch of MP3.com is an important milestone for the music industry," said Vince Broady, senior vice president of CNET Networks' games and entertainment business. "Consumers have never before had such an easy, intuitive way to navigate the rich, diverse world of legal music content, technologies, and services. By putting our users first and making their satisfaction our only concern, we hope to support and expand the entire market as we transition to a world where digital music consumption and distribution is a truly mainstream phenomenon."
As an objective, unbiased interactive media resource, MP3.com is free from restrictions that would cause it to favor one music format, technology, editorial resource, or genre. The site's features underscore this freedom and ability to be a gateway to the entire digital music universe.
Today, MP3.com includes:
A directory of legal digital music downloads and streams, across the major services, including 30-second clips of millions of songs.
A comprehensive catalog of artist, album and track information, across 700 music genres.
Musicvine, a "music discovery engine" that helps music lovers find new artists by finding similarities to their favorites in a unique visual interface.
Links to the best available content music fans care about, driven by the belief that the user experience comes first, and that being a trusted, knowledgeable voice and frequently visited site is more important than pushing a particular agenda.
An original, comprehensive Tech Guide section with descriptions of each major portable player, music service, and software. Includes unparalleled information on compatibility between services, formats, devices and software presented in clear, no-nonsense charts, as well as tutorials that demystify software and hardware compatibility issues.
Other original content from MP3.com's staff of music experts, including reviews of music and audio devices, and feature articles covering the constantly evolving digital music arena. 
