| Opened | 14 January 2004 |
|---|---|
| Pricing model | fixed |
| Platforms | Microsoft Windows, Mac OS |
| Format | MPEG Layer 3 (.mp3), FLAC (.flac) (variable bit rates), WAV (.wav) |
| Restrictions | None |
| Preview | full tracks, pause every 30 seconds @ 90kbit/s |
| Protocol | HTTP |
| Availability | UK, USA, Europe |
| Website | www.bleep.com |
Bleep is an online music store focusing on the independent music sector. Created by Warp Records and launched in January 2004, Bleep was one of the UK's first legal music download businesses and the only one to originate from within the music industry. The store offers single track or whole album DRM-free mp3 and WAV downloads alongside vinyl records, CDs, DVDs, T-shirts and other merchandise.
Since its launch, the range of music offered by Bleep has grown and now provides music from independent labels including Rough Trade, Domino, Beggars Banquet, One Little Indian, XL Recordings, Ninja Tune, Stones Throw, Hyperdub, Planet Mu, Tempa, and many more. In addition, a large catalogue of rare titles has been acquired from many small labels from all over the world.
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Bleep was launched initially on 14 January 2004 as a download store for releases on Warp Records. The website quickly expanded its catalogue to include releases on other labels, gaining enough popularity to receive nomination for a Webby Award in the music category on 7 May 2004 alongside iTunes, BeatPort, Live365 and musicplasma. In 2006, Bleep passed the million downloads threshold and in October of that year won the UK Digital Music Award for "Best Music Store".[1]
Bleep has been DRM-free since its inception and provides 320kbit/s mp3s, FLACs, and WAVs.
In November 2008, Bleep merged with Warpmart,[2] which had been Warp's store for physical releases. This has resulted in Bleep being not only a download store, but a full mail order retail service.
Both the original store and the current site were designed by Matt Pyke, originally of The Designers Republic and now running his own design studio; Universal Everything.
Entire tracks and albums can be previewed prior to purchase. The preview function plays 30 second segments at a time, encoded at 96kbit/s mono.