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LICENSE Update license to non-AI usage license 2025-07-31 15:30:24 +02:00
README.md Nobody noticed this typo I hope ... 2025-07-29 01:56:38 +02:00

Awesome List Of Music Retailers

A collection-in-progress of music retailers offering music in high quality, accessible, and permanently ownable formats.

To be included, a (digital) storefront must:

  • Provide a lossless audio file format purchase option (can be provided alongside a lossy file format)
  • Provide the option to download media to your system locally, with no DRM, without any separate tool or app (besides a mainstream web browser)
  • Must not require a subscription to purchase media; you must be able to purchase music track-by-track or as full albums
Provider Geographic Restriction (ISO 3166-1 alpha-2) Lossless Format Lossless Bit-depth Note
7Digital EU15 ¹ (-GR,DK), AU/NZ, CA/US, CH NO, SG FLAC + OTHER 16/24-bit (per supplier) Each country has it's own storefront; UK as base site, country selection at bottom of page.
Artcore ? (PayPal for payments) FLAC/WAV 16/24-bit (per supplier) Self-publishing website, similar to Bandcamp
Bandcamp FLAC/WAV + OTHER 16/24-bit (per supplier) See special footnote on Bandcamp
Beatport FLAC/WAV + OTHER 16-bit/24-bit?
Booth JP? (Physical items may limit shipping to JP) ? ? Japan based self-publishing store for music and other digital or physical items.
Bleep "We sell products in the UK and world-wide, except where we notify you that we are not able to supply products." FLAC/WAV 16-bit/24-bit (WAV)
Bugs! KR? (Has non-KR signup available in English) FLAC +? 16/24-bit (per supplier) Korean music store, streaming service, etc. Those living outside Korea may have difficulties buying music or paying, see earlier note for EN signup.
Dizzylab CN? FLAC + OTHER 16/24-bit? Interface only in Mandarin. Very similar layout to Bandcamp, may be CN only/targeting that market.
DLSite NSFW! JP? FLAC/WAV? + OTHER? 16-bit? CONTAINS NSFW CONTENT! Physical media may be limited to JP shipping.
High Definition Tape Transfers FLAC/WAV/DXD/DSD 24-bit + DSD 64-256 Allows payment in many different currencies; based in Canada.
HighResAudio "...due to license agreements and territory restrictions some Digital Content are not available." ALAC/FLAC/DXD/DSD 24-bit + DSD
HDTracks Certain albums are unavailable on a country-by-country basis FLAC/WAV/DSD 16/24-bit + DSD 128/256
iTrax FLAC/WAV (2.0/5.1) 24-bit + OTHER AIX Records website; DVD-Audio disc options with "DTS, DD, PCM and MLP" options
JunoDownload CA US UK FLAC/WAV + OTHER 16/24-bit (per supplier) Post-completed download, the option to redownload disappears; unsure if you can contact support to redownload
LinnRecords FLAC 16/24-bit (>= 192khz) Purchases able to be downloaded as ZIPs
MelonBooks NSFW! JP? FLAC + OTHER? 16-bit? CONTAINS NSFW CONTENT! Website entirely in Japanese with Tenso intl. shipping + Google for live translation.
Mora JP FLAC + OTHER 16/24-bit (per supplier) Some albums not high-res; purchase likely limited to Japan-issued credit cards + non-050 prefix JP phone numbers
NativeDSD FLAC/DXD/DSD 24-bit + DSD 64-1024 (!) Implied use of an "app" to download purchases, however Linux users (et al.) can request browser ZIP downloads be enabled
Ototoy JP? FLAC 16/24-bit Should allow non-JP credit cards/IPs to buy content
PrestoMusic FLAC + OTHER 16/24-bit (>= 192khz) Also sells content on CD/SACD/Vinyl/DVD/Blu-Ray
Qobuz EU15 ¹ (-GR), CA/MX/US, AU/NZ, AR BR CL CO PO, UK FLAC/WAV + OTHER 16/24-bit (>= 192khz)
RecoChoku (レコチョク) JP? FLAC + OTHER? 16/24-bit Site is only in Japanese, may be JP IP/pay/phone limited, some music may not be sold losslessly (up to the provider)

¹ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Member_state_of_the_European_Union#Abbreviations

Footnotes

Bandcamp
  • Bandcamp has recently been sold by Epic Games to Songtradr, Songtradr has not made their intentions for Bandcamp public, AND Songtradr fired half of Bandcamp staff (in particular, those working on unionizing)
  • From the outside, the future of Bandcamp is looking uncertain and not in a good state, therefore it's advisable to do the following:
    • Download a backup of ALL your owned media in FLAC/ALAC
    • Heed caution on pre-purchasing any albums before their release
    • Consider supporting an artist on another storefront or platform, such as one on the list above
    • Alternatively, support the artist through label CD and media purchases.
  • More information and collective sourcing for the above commentary: https://www.bandcamp2.com/
  • Check out Subvert.fm, a community/artist owned "successor" to Bandcamp
Adding more details

Currently what I think would help improve the list would be:

  • Genres of music available for sale
  • If an account is required
  • Confirming geographic restrictions for those missing
  • ????

Exclusions of note:

Tidal
ProStudioMasters
Good Old Games and Humble Bundle
  • Many games offer the purchase of their soundtrack either separately or as part of buying the specific game
  • They do not sell music other than game soundtracks or related offerings, therefore they are mentioned here but not on the list.
Itch.io
  • Similar to GOG and Humble Bundle, this is a video game/art/other media primary storefront
  • Some music has been listed for sale before, but it is very much a limited offering, therefore they are mentioned here but not on the list.
Amazon.com et al
Genie (KR)
  • Unable to determine where or how to purchase content.
  • Seems to require an account.

[e-onkyo]

References