Off I go to CODA’s website. So far, so good. Now, in the download box I’m asked to enter my email. I can just about fathom this, since I understand the value of email marketing, and if the band are good I don’t mind getting their updates. I duly add my address, and click to agree to the terms, then I hit the “Get PIN” button. Seems a bit odd, but OK.

I’m presented with a “Thanks for using Music Pin” message – thanks for using what now? Where’s my link? I’ve been sent an email? OK I can handle that, I presume there’s a download link inside. So I jump back over to my email, and check for an incoming mail. One arrives – with images blocked (as is standard for Thunderbird these days) and there’s a pin, and a pretty small link to the music-pin site for redeeming. OK, let’s see if I can enter this pin and get this music.

Back I go to my browser, expecing a big shiny “enter code” and redeem button – but alas, this new site has yet another form. No email pre-population, and different fields this time. Now Music Pin want my name, email, city, country, date of birth, gender, pin and another confirmation of terms and conditions. Now, tell me this isn’t essential? I duly fill out this oversized form with details that I KNOW are going to get used and abused, I’m just hoping there’s an unsubscribe for one of the lists I’ve been added to. I don’t even know if I like CODA yet, and I’ve already given them two lots of information, in return for nothing.

Anyway – so I fill this out, check the T&Cs just to be sure, and hit the button. Guess what. Another message saying I’ve been emailed a link. Here we go – another email. Is this going to continue ad infinitum? I get the email, right enough – again with no imagesm and a link – Click to redeem free download. So once again, I click the email link and get taken back to the browser. Another window, another photo, the same text again and a download link – finally!

Eventually the goods are here – the zip is downloading as we speak, and provided I don’t need to email anything or fill out a form to open it I’m OK.

I tell you what though. If I come across anyone else using Music PIN, I’ll be avoiding it upon principal. After such a rediculous process to get music that’s free anyway – it just seems like overkill. Now I’m guilty of asking people for their email address, for the new Cut compilation – or asking them to put a tweet out in return for the download link – but I’d like to think it was a much smoother process. Maybe just the one email!

Anyway – rant over. It was a late night last night, and if nothing else, this process has woken me up.