7digital

[Natasha]

I discovered 7digital as a great alternative for me being in the US and not getting to buy all the UK music I wanted, but recently when I try to buy something (I just tried to download some hayley songs) they said it is now restricted. Does anyone know if there's a way around that? I really want to download Hayley's new songs from her greatest hits album... any advice?

[Joe]

Hi "Celtic Woman"

Sorry I can't help. I've searched the net but there's nothing.

Joe

[Dave]

Oh dear, it looks like 7digital have now been brought into line with the other download stores (you could sometimes get things from there that you shouldn't be able to, from Countries outside the UK).

This is such a pity and very annoying. Digital downloads are supposed to make things much easier for the music buyer and record companies claim they are sensitive to the needs of music lovers, even now abandoning copy protection (except iTunes but iTunes will soon follow). So how come you can buy physical CDs from foreign Countries but not digital music? Record Company madness!

Celtic Woman, it looks like you may have to import the CD you want, from a mainland UK record store such as hmv.com or amazon.co.uk (as their Jersey and Guernsey branches will usually ship CDs only to UK addresses) but of course, that doesn't let you pick individual tracks. US online stores may have them as imports but that method usually costs more.

Dave

[roger]

Hi Dave,

Thanks for your views on this. Yes, it is madness and incedibly frustrating for loyal fans of any given artist around the world.

Isn't there a danger that these severe restrictions will drive it underground? Won't it merely encourage a greater level of illegal file transfer? I don't condone it but, if it happens, the record companies and download sites would only have themselves to blame, surely?

Roger

[Dave]

Hi Roger,

Yes, everything you say (though record companies might argue that it's for them to decide what tracks are available where and anyway, the CD can usually be imported).

I'm glad you raised the thorny bits and not me!

Cheers, Dave

[kmsmith8]

I figured out how to get around this.

Pay with PayPal. If you pay with a credit card it won't let you change the country away from the United Kingdom. But if you pay with Paypal you can change it to other countries.

I just tried this from the United States and successfully downloaded 2 songs.

Katie

[comet]

there is more than one way to skin a cat

PayPAL is very useful and much safer than using your credit card or the likes of Western Union who charge exorbitant fees