TORONTO - HMV is expanding beyond its brick-and-mortar stores to compete online with iTunes for Canadians' digital dollars.

The music retailer has launched HMVdigital.ca and says the website offers millions of tracks for download in MP3 format.

The site is available in English and French and HMV says the tracks are compatible with all digital music players.

HMV adds that the service can be accessed through any computer so that users can listen to music if they're not at their home computer.

Users can also download for free any previously bought tracks they may have lost.

Dwindling CD sales have hit the retail sector hard, with chains including Sam the Record Man and Music World closing in recent years as iTunes gained in popularity.