1. A computer-readable storage device encoded with computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a processor, perform a method for distributing transcoded digital media content to a personal electronic device of a user configured for communication via a network, the method comprising: arranging digital media content items into a plurality of subsets of digital media content items based on subset creation criteria; transcoding the subsets of the digital media content items based on the subset creation criteria; receiving a selection of an identity; identifying a specific digital media content item for distribution based on the identity; ascertaining a first characteristic associated with the personal electronic device; ascertaining a second characteristic associated with the communication network; ascertaining a plurality of first user preferences, wherein the plurality of first user preferences are associated with the personal electronic device and the communication network; selecting a format for the specific digital media content item based on the first characteristic, the second characteristic, and the plurality of first user preferences; transcoding the specific digital media content item into the selected format; and distributing the transcoded specific digital media content item to the personal electronic device via the network.