americanidol.com now selling MP3s and Videos

The official website of American Idol is now selling studio-version MP3s of the Top 12 performances for 99 cents each. They are also selling the Top 12 performance videos for $1.99.

Rickey's verdict: The MP3s are worth the price since a studio-recording adds some value. Videos, no -- unless it was a knockout performance which will justify the $1.99 price tag.

I bought: Sanjaya, Melinda, LaKisha, Sligh and Blake. All MP3 versions are better than the live version (I think). It also gives us an idea of how these guys will sound in a future CD. Sanjaya sounds great I'm telling you. And the Sligh and Blake Lewis "concept" arrangements are awesome. I'm impressed. American Idol should have done this a long time ago. They are also selling albums of other past Idols.

My general gripe is after our undying loyalty to the show, Fox feels compelled to sell everything to us. Where's the free stuff that we really want? Anyway, I still recommend the studio MP3s.

Save Sanjaya Malakar!