The Visual C++ 2005 team has fixed some bugs and extended the functionality of their Beta 1 bits. This update also works for the VC++ 2005 Express Beta.
The 36 MB download is available at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=afd04ff1-9d16-439a-9a5e-e13eb0341923
Microsoft has made available a beta of their music shop at http://beta.music.msn.com.
Unfortunately, they do not actually offer the right to listen to the song you pay them for. Instead, you can only pay them for the right to listen to a song from up to five computers and burn it on a fragile CD for up to 7 times.
I can still play my first record, "Baby Jane" from Rod Stewart, which I bought 21 years ago and listened to from something like 8 record players since then. Within the last 21 years, I think I have copied that song to something like 15 tapes to listen to it. And I can still do that. Legally.
I'd pay more, but I wouldn't pay for anything less.