Gift certificates for music stores
December 8, 2005

Submitted by: J. Shelly, CNET reader e-mail
Which music stores offer gift certificates?

James Kim, senior editor
Give the gift of digital music (and video)--it's easy and meaningful! Virtually all major online music stores offer gift certificates; just make sure you know what format of music (that is, AAC, WMA, or ATRAC3) your recipient prefers. If you're buying for an iPod user, you can go to Apple.com and purchase prepaid cards in quantities of $15, $25, and $50, as well as an iTunes gift certificate ranging from $10 to $200; you can also set up an iTunes allowance. One of iTunes' latest features allows you to "gift" a specific album or song. You can purchase these items within iTunes or visit an Apple store.

If you know that your recipient uses the popular WMA format or has a WMA player (virtually any MP3 player that isn't from Apple or Sony), try Napster or Rhapsody. You can go to many stores such as Best Buy or check online--though you must have the Napster application running--to purchase a $15, $25, or $50 Napster Track Pack card. You can also buy a subscription for all-you-can-eat PC-based download and streaming, starting at $10 for one month and up to $120 for a year. Additionally, Rhapsody.com has sweet specials (as of this writing): $14.99 for 20 downloads; $34.99 for 50 downloads; or a one-month subscription to Rhapsody and 10 downloads for $12.99, up to six months and 20 downloads for $49.99. If you're looking for cheaper WMAs, check out Buy.com's gift certificates.

For Sony Network Walkman users, you can go to Sony Connect and purchase a gift card in amounts from $5 to $100.

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