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Amazon toying with music
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June 8, 1999: 8:53 a.m. ET
Web retailer begins offering free music downloads, mulls online toy store
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NEW YORK (CNNfn) - Amazon.com, the world's biggest Internet retailer, Tuesday began offering free digital downloads of certain music titles and is taking steps to set up an online toy store, according to media reports.
Amazon.com (AMZN) Tuesday began offering high-quality downloads of music artists' singles, the retailer's latest step in solidifying its position as the dominant Internet merchant. Users can download singles from such artists as Cheap Trick, Public Enemy and the Cowboy Junkies, among others, in Liquid Audio or MP3 format. Approximately 25 different titles are available for download.
According to media reports, Amazon.com anticipates little opposition from the music industry. That's because previous free-download tests run by the retailer have shown that the free trials actually boost sales by encouraging shoppers to buy the whole album rather than just one or two songs. The company did a test confirming that pattern earlier in the spring involving Canadian singer Sarah McLachlan.
Amazon.com also is toying with the idea of getting into the toy business at some point in the near future, according to the Wall Street Journal. Volpe Brown Whelan analyst Derek Brown told the newspaper that the online retailer already has established relationships with key manufacturers and distributors in the toy industry and has begun acquiring significant amounts of toy-related inventory. Officials of the Seattle-based retailer declined to comment on whether the company was planning to sell toys online.
Amazon.com shares closed Monday up 8-15/16 at 117-3/8. 
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