A Mac Mini Enthusiast Network

More bad news recently for CD sales: sales of music downloads are set to pass that of physical CDs by 2012.

But what’s this: bad news for paid-for music downloads. Many providers are starting to offer free music downloads and music steaming from their websites for free. We7 is a shining example of such a service: set up by Peter Gabriel in May 2007 it recently surpassed the 2million tracks mark. Two million free tracks: free of cost and free of DRM. Just free downloads and streaming.

Sony BMG recently gave We7 – and by proxy other providers of free music downloads – by sanctioning the service and proving its back catalogue for free streaming on the site. Sony’s back catalogue includes many well known contemporary artists will be a fantastic boost for We7’s already extensive catalogue.

There is some concern that all this free music will affect the sales of legal music downloads but if this is a fantastic example of market forces dictating the way the market moves: which is just as it should be.