I really want to like Amazon’s mp3 store and it has some great things going for it, chiefly fair prices and DRM-free music. But, the store interface is aggravating for several reasons.

One of the biggest challenges mp3 stores face is the need to continually provide new music that customers resonate with.

Amazon tries to address that need with these features:

That’s a great start, but the lists need improvement.

Somehow, Amazon needs to create faster turnover on its Top XYZ lists. Often I’ll go there a couple of days in a row and see very little change in the first 25 entries. Yes, I can drill down further in the list, but that requires multiple steps and makes it difficult to get a good snapshot of new music from several lists without lots of clicking. Below is how one of Amazon’s lists looks now:

That said, what’s even more annoying about the Top XYZ lists is accessing the 30 second previews. Currently, the interface requires you to access each song’s individual page before you can hear the preview. For albums this isn’t as much of an issue because there’s a “Preview All” button which will play previews for the entire album automatically.

No such luck for individual MP3s though. You have to click on the song link, then click on the “Preview All” or “Play” button for a single song. I find myself opening 20 tabs in Firefox just to preview a series of new songs.

Amazon should make it easy by putting the preview button right next to the MP3 links on the main page. That way there isn’t any drilling necessary, and everyone can save a step or two. Like so:

I also challenge Amazon to improve the downloader app upgrade process. Instead of requiring users to download an entirely new install file every time there’s an upgrade, figure out a way to upgrade incrementally and without requiring user intervention (other than confirmation on whether or not to proceed).

Amazon has taken some great steps and has shaken up the online music industry with its MP3 store, but making some of these changes could help them gain additional marketshare and further distinguish them from the competition.

I’m not aiming for the next iTunes, but new music is something I look for often and Amazon doesn’t make that a fun experience right now.

To summarize, Amazon needs to:

- Update the popularity lists frequently to show new music on the main page for daily visitors

- Put preview buttons on the main page, including a “Preview All” for all popularity lists that operates the same as album “Preview All” buttons.

- Make the downloader app upgrade process seamless

Related:

Entry was posted on Tuesday, February 5th, 2008 at 9:12 pm under Internet, Music, Opinion.

Read more entries by Matt Jansen.
Stumble It!