| Opened | 14 January 2004 |
|---|---|
| Pricing model | fixed |
| Platforms | Microsoft Windows, Mac OS |
| Format | MPEG Layer 3 (.mp3), FLAC (.flac) (variable bit rates), WAV (.wav) |
| Restrictions | None |
| Preview | 30 seconds @ 90kbit/s |
| Protocol | HTTP |
| Availability | UK, USA, Europe |
| Website | www.bleep.com |
Bleep is an online digital music retailer offering single track or whole album DRM-free mp3 and FLAC downloads. It is a subsidiary of Warp Records.
In November 2008, Bleep merged with Warpmart,[1] which had been Warp's store for physical releases.
Contents |
Overview
Bleep was launched initially on 14 January 2004 as a download store for releases on Warp Records. The website quickly expanded its catalogue to include releases on other labels, gaining enough popularity to receive nomination for a Webby Award in the music category on 7 May 2004 alongside iTunes, BeatPort, Live365 and musicplasma. In 2006, Bleep passed the million downloads threshold and in October of that year won the UK Digital Music Award for "Best Music Store".[2]
Design
The site was built and designed by long-standing Warp associates, The Designers Republic and Kleber Design.
Previews
Entire tracks and albums can be previewed prior to purchase. The preview function plays 30 second segments at a time, encoded at 90kbit/s.
File formats
Bleep's downloads are DRM-free.
All downloads are available as MP3s. Many are encoded in LAME using the "--alt-preset standard" (--aps) variable bitrate command line. LAME's --aps encoding method is generally believed to be one of the best MP3 encoding options, offering one of the best quality-to-size ratios available thus far. [1] All MP3 files added to Bleep since January 2006 have been encoded at 320kbit/s.[3]
Bleep also offers lossless FLAC-encoded versions of some of its downloads, at a premium cost. The first album available as FLAC was Autechre's Untilted album on 18 April 2005. Uncompressed WAV format downloads are also available.[3]
Labels
Bleep carries music from over 300 different independent labels.[4] Apart from Warp, other labels available include Domino, XL, One Little Indian, Rephlex, Ninja Tune, Planet Mu, !K7, Stones Throw and Twisted Nerve.
Pricing
On its website, Bleep explicitly claims "after the bandwidth charges and Bleep running costs are subtracted, the artist gets half the album or track price." [2] Files may be purchased using a credit or debit card, or through PayPal.[5]
References
- ^ "Bleep: About". Bleep. http://beta.bleep.com/index.php?page=dpage&task=credits. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
- ^ "Bleep wins Best Music Store at Digital Music Awards". Bleep. 5 October 2006. http://www.bleep.com/news.php?id=324. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
- ^ a b "Bleep Knowledge Base: Buying Downloads". Bleep. http://beta.bleep.com/index.php?page=dpage&task=help&catId=6. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
- ^ "Bleep Knowledge Base: Whats happened to Warpmart!? / Whats happened to Bleep!?". Bleep. http://beta.bleep.com/index.php?page=dpage&task=help&catId=13. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
- ^ "Bleep Knowledge Base: Payment Security and Privacy". Bleep. http://beta.bleep.com/index.php?page=dpage&task=help&catId=9. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
External links
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
