Tech Shout!

Last week, on Friday, online music retailer Napster, announced its plans of teaming up with electronics retail chain Circuit City Stores Inc. for the launch of a new digital music service. This co-branded service will be called Circuit City + Napster, and will be powered by Napster’s subscription service.

Circuit City + Napster will offer some exclusive tracks on a weekly basis, and this service will not be available to Napster users. What’s more, new customers will receive the first month free, and will then be billed $14.95 per month (includes five free song downloads).

Individual song downloads can be purchased for 99 cents each. Additionally, prepaid download cards will be available in-store and online in bundles of 15, 25 or 60 tracks.

According to Circuit City’s entertainment chief Irynne MacKay, “Increasingly, consumers are turning to the digital environment for entertainment and this new service will give our customers easy access to the content they want, when and how they choose to enjoy it.”

The Circuit City + Napster service will be open for sign up beginning April 29, 2007.

Napster spokeswoman Becky Farina said that at least for the time being, the new service will not be tied to any specific digital music player sold at Circuit City.

This partnership between Napster and Circuit City could be a win-win situation for both the companies. Circuit City will perhaps generate higher revenue and could possibly establish itself as ‘the destination’ for online music. While for Napster, the deal could give the company a fresh marketing push that might boost its subscriber rolls.