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When you think of online music stores, what do comes to mind? iTunes? Napster? How about National Geographic? That's right - the company known for their focus on animals, landscapes, and remote tribes is getting into the music business.

National Geographic World Music is up and running. As you might have surmised from the name, its selection won't be limited to American pop (for which I am extremely grateful). The site mentions "Israeli reggae and Japanese klezmer," "rock and roll from the Sahara and flamenco with a hip-hop breakbeat," and "digital bossa nova and Irish sean nos with an African pulse."

The store offers consumers the option of buying individual tracks or complete albums. Like so many other sites, it also allows users to preview track, but this is perhaps especially nice to see when dealing with such an exotic selection. Of the same magnified importance is the ability to browse by artist or genre (as well as by region). There are even a few photo galleries and videos sprinkled about.

If you're a little overwhelmed - I was - and need something to get you started, the site offers Editor's Picks, and there's even a glossary if you require it (betcha didn't know that "agooda" is "Sierra Leone street music incorporated by Abdul T-Jay"). A free newsletter will let you "get monthly world music updates in your inbox."

Allow me to state explicitly what I've been getting at all along: there is something for everyone at the National Geographic World Music store. And as the website says, world music is "quite possibly the sound of your next favorite song."

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Doug is a staff writer for WebProNews. Visit WebProNews for the latest eBusiness news.