Best format for audio on a website and a conversion tool??

[BCre8tive]

I'm creating a website of various artists and i'd like to put their music online. I dont want to use mp3s because I dont want to invite trouble, and I'l like to put up about 15 full albums, so i need a much smaller file size. The point is just so people can hear the type of music these artists sing and then go out and buy the album if they like it
What format would you suggest I use?

Also, I am on a mac so can anyone recomend a tool to convert to that format from a CD or mp3s?

Thanks

[housepig]

I would suggest, if you want to avoid trouble, you should put up selected excerpts, like a minute from a song, rather than 15 full albums of material.

just put up 30 second or 1 minute clips in mp3 format, mono, at a low bitrate like 64kbs - it'll get the point across, and allow people to sample the artist, and it will be obvious that you are providing samples and not just distributing this material from your server.

[toadster123]

Yea there isnt really a format that can compress a whole lot better than mp3.... and if there is , like AAC, it wont be as compatible....