Online retailers such as CheckOut. Com, Los Angeles, take that a step further. The site doesn't maintain a complete video library for each artist, but typically has one or two of the most recent releases. You need special software to hear and watch multimedia clips. You need only click on the title of the song or video to start a clip.
Music reviews are another aid for online music buyers.
The amateur reviews sometimes are scathing, even insulting. Negative reviews may seem counterproductive for sites selling CDs, but Andy Jassy, Seattle-based Amazon's director of product management, says they keep the site fresh and honest. We've found that the best thing for customers making a buying decision is to have all of the information right in front of them. The sites make assumptions about tastes based on buying patterns revealed in their database. For example, CDNow's Web site informs a surfer that customers who buy Elvis Costello CDs also have bought those of New Colony Six and the Replacements.