How to Buy Holiday Music

Bing Crosby, Celine Dion or The Irish Tenors? Create the perfect atmosphere for your holiday events by buying the right music.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Set a budget by estimating how much money you'd like to spend on holiday music.
2. Determine the format you want to buy ' CD, audiocassette or other.
3. Consider the kind of mood you want to create. Will the music be used for a children's party, a formal get-together, or simply for background atmosphere during holiday months?
4. Evaluate the different types of holiday music, which is now available in everything from Alternative and Blues to R&B and Hip-Hop, as well as Classic Carols, New Age and Country. You may decide to buy a selection of sounds rather than focusing on a single genre.
5. Visit a music website and listen to samples from selected CDs. Take note of customer and other reviews.
6. Make a list of the titles you like best, and rank them.
7. Comparison shop between online vendors and retail outlets.
8. Narrow your list of selections to match your budget.
9. Order online or head for the stores!

Tips & Warnings

• When in doubt, stick with tradition. Fad music comes and goes, but only a scrooge won't enjoy classic holiday carols.
• Prices often run about 15 percent to 25 percent higher at mall music stores than they do at consumer electronic stores, such as Best Buy. Popular holiday titles are usually available at general merchandise discount stores, such as Target or Wal-Mart.
• Ordering online is tops in the convenience department, but remember to add in shipping charges when comparison shopping between Internet and retail vendors.

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