Listening Post's brief interview with ad-supported download site we7 is a good complement to my recent review of another ad-supported download site, SpiralFrog.

The two sites approach advertising differently. SpiralFrog places ads on the actual web pages. we7 embeds advertisements at the beginning of its MP3 files. (Ad-free versions of songs can be purchased.) The ads expire after four weeks, at which point the user can download an ad-free version.

If you read my SpiralFrog review you'll know that a user can easily avoid looking at ads while tracks download by switching to a different browser or application. At least for a month, we7 users get forced exposure to the ads -- unless they remove the ad using an audio editing software. At first glance, I like the we7 model more, both from a consumer and business model point of view. Because it offers MP3s, we7 does not have the interoperability problems that will plague SpiralFrog. And because it is harder to avoid a we7 ad than a SpiralFrog ad, advertisers get a stronger presence. SpiralFrog does have more popular artists in its catalog, though (Universal Music Group has signed on).