I've spent over two hours today trying to buy (that's right, buy) an album as a digital download - and I can't. It's impossible.
I'm a big fan of Mat Kearney. I bought his City of Black and White album recently and loved it. So I decided (not unreasonably) that I'd pick up his back catalogue. That's where my troubles began.
The album I already own is the only one available on iTunes (UK version). 'Not a problem' I thought, 'I'll just change my store preference to the US for twenty minutes.' Not possible. It checks your billing address.
I then thought, 'I'll see if Amazon has it.' Same problem. Can't get it as an mp3 download in the UK. US Amazon store has it, but I can't purchase from there.
I had a look around and there are sites where you can purchase iTunes US gift cards (at a hefty markup) and there are details spread around the net on how to open a US account. I did that - but as a UK resident I can't purchase a gift card to be used on the US iTunes store (glad I found this out before buying one).
The whole thing is incredibly frustrating. The media is awash with tales of the record companies clamping down on those who make use of illegal downloads. I'm trying to make an honest purchase of an album (I refuse to pay £15 to purchase an imported CD when the album as an mp3 would cost £7) and I can't. If I was that way inclined, I would download it, but I like this artist (who isn't mainstream and I would imagine every purchase is important to him) and I'm way too paranoid to dip my toe into the torrent issue for fear of recrimination.
Looks like Mat Kearney will have to wait for my money.
Gustaw
October 29th, 2010
Yeah I've struggled with iTunes as well trying to download an app available in Japanese store only - it's a no go. But back to the topic at hand...
I'm not sure about the DRM of mp3s sold in Amazon's store but if you're really inclined to buy those mp3s just for the principle of it, you may try buying a prepaid debit card.
Get yourself an Idt Prime prepaid MasterCard (sold in most of PayPaints). I think you can buy them charged with any amount between £10 and £200 or so buy you also get charged around £2 for the service. The whole beauty of it is that once you buy it with cash and register over the phone there's no billing address set for the card. You can buy anything, wherever Mastercard may be used, and any billing address entered into the check out form will be automatically accepted as valid.
On the other hand though, you'll pay a minimum of £12 for that card and only use £7 of it... Well, I guess opposing the music industry just got even more costly.
Good luck to you and Mat Kearney :]
Sean C
November 14th, 2010
Turts, have you tried getting in touch with the actual record label ? I'm betting they've had this issue before and would be able to e-mail you the tunes if you could sort out a direct payment with them.