Online retailer Amazon is stepping up the fight for music sales by giving UK shoppers a digital version when they buy a CD or vinyl record.
The MP3 service, called AutoRip, will be automatically backdated to any purchases made since 1999 and gives customers instant access to their new music days before it arrives in the post.
More than 350,000 albums are included in the service, with Amazon claiming there will be no knock-on effect on prices.
AutoRip will be seen as a new weapon in the battle for the online music market and especially the likes of Apple's iTunes - the market leader, which offers a download-only service.
The system has been running in the US since January this year.
Tracks are added to a person's Amazon Cloud Player account in high-quality 256 Kbps MP3 format and can then be streamed or downloaded to devices such as tablets, smartphones or desktop computers.
The service does not apply to items bought as gifts or music purchased from private sellers on the Amazon Marketplace.
Amazon became the UK's biggest music retailer in 2012, with 25.6% of the entire music market. iTunes is not far behind though and claims 22.5% of all sales.
Both companies are looking to capture sales from a much smaller HMV, which was forced to close nearly half its stores after a much-publicised downturn in its fortunes.
Subscription-based music services like Spotify have also added to the competitiveness of the music market in recent years, with many fans content to 'pay-as-you-go' instead of actually downloading and owning their music.
Amazon will be hoping the new service is well received - the company was one of many recently criticised over its tax affairs, having only paid £2.4m in UK taxes in 2012.
