OD2

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On Demand Distribution (OD2), one of the first online music download services, was co-founded by entrepreneur Charles Grimsdale and musician Peter Gabriel in 1999. Its technology is used by a number of music download sites including MSN Music UK, CD WOW!, and Virgin Media. OD2 provides almost all the IT necessary to make music downloads possible, the main component of which is its catalogue of over 2 million tracks. It has become the dominant music download technology platform for stores in Europe. However some notable music download sites don't use OD2 including iTunes and Napster.

OD2 was formed in November 1999 in partnership with musician Peter Gabriel. OD2 was making a loss but in June 2004 was bought by US digital music distributor company Loudeye for $40 million ^[1]. Loudeye sold its other music distribution business in 2006, making OD2 its principal business. In October 2006 Loudeye was acquired by Finnish mobile giant Nokia for $60 million.

Rival digital music distributors include MusicNet which is used by EMI, AOL/Time Warner, BMG and HMV - the latter of which defected from OD2 in 2005.