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The service, called Amazon MP3, has launched with, initially, 3 million songs from all four major labels: SonyBMG, Universal Music, EMI Music and Warner Music, as well as leading independent music labels too. Amazon claims that tens of thousands of tracks will also be added every day.

The low prices of downloads are not expected to last too long, and are expected to be hiked up once Amazon has established the download service.

"We're

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excited to provide our UK customers with more ways to discover and enjoy great music," said Greg Greeley, vice president of Amazon EU Retail. "In addition to the millions of low-priced CDs available in our music store, Amazon MP3 now provides a vast selection of DRM-free albums and songs across every genre you can think of, ready to enjoy in seconds."

"With some of this Christmas' biggest albums from £3, it's a great opportunity for customers to experience the quality, choice and convenience of Amazon MP3"

Songs downloadable at Amazon MP3 are encoded at 256 kbps and users can organise music using any music management application, such as iTunes or Windows Media Player.

"Amazon's music services in the US have attracted new digital music consumers and helped grow the digital market," said Ged Doherty, chairman and CEO at Sony BMG UK. "We have high hopes that it will have the same impact in the UK. Amazon are an excellent and well trusted retailer, this new store can only be good for UK music."