The new cnet mp3 service, born from the downfall of mp3.com, is now live. I’m not exactly sure how much of mp3.com cnet actually acquired because today (perfectly timed with the public launch of cnet’s music.download.com) I got an email from garageband.com offering to revive the songs I had stored on the mp3.com system.

The competition should drive improvement in all services, and it shows that companies believe in the potential profitability of alternative music distribution systems (read: label-less distribution). I just wish they’d stop trying to make money from both ends. Garageband.com wants $7 each to “restore” my songs. They’re nice enough to give me three for free.

I’ll be signing up on cnet next week when I can get to my other computer, until then it’s nice to once again have some tracks online (still being “transferred” at the moment though).