eMusic poised to gain from DRM hysteria

With all the iTunes/EMI DRM-free ballyhoo going on, it's easy to forget that sites like eMusic have already been offering inexpensive, DRM-free downloads for years. While Apple and Microsoft casually backpedal out of the DRM mess they've made, eMusic is announcing a very attractive new monthly subscription model that offers 25-cent downloads of DRM-free MP3s. It may not be Apple's reported 256kbps AAC quality, but for the average user a 192kbps MP3 sounds just fine--especially at 25 cents a song.

eMusic's new plans (called Connoisseur) come in three types 100, 200, and 300 downloads per month, priced respectively at $25, $50 and $75. While these are more expensive than rental subscription models like Rhapsody or Urge, at the end of the day you actually keep the music you've downloaded. That's keep--as in forever.

Be warned, eMusic's Achilles heel has always been selection. With major labels historically wary of DRM-free downloads, few have joined in with eMusic's mostly independent catalog. The recent iTunes/EMI deal may signal a sea change in this way of thinking and hopefully reward eMusic for its consistent endorsement of DRM-free music.

If you're an existing eMusic member, here's a link on how to upgrade your plan.

[CurtisW-FL]

eMusic sales a lot of CRAP!

I cannot understand how eMusic has found such a following.

If you are a idependent artist, then seriously reconsidered using eMusic to promote and sell your music. They offer to much gawd awfully, mislabeled remixes or live recordings. I was burned several times by that crap. Thinking I am getting the real "deal" but instead getting poor quality and ****** performances. You don't want to get associated with that ****.

[navsimpson]

A bit disingenuous...

I think I, and many eMusic subscribers, would say that eMusic's *strength* is its selection. Yes it's true, you won't find Justin Timberlake there, but you will find a whole slew of interesting, cool music.

Also, the LAME-encoded VBR MP3s that eMusic sells offer a much better sound quality-size ratio than AAC files - I think it's misleading to say the AACs will sound better, because that isn't necessarily true.

[kymark]

eMusic is a great music deal...

...but you have to be willing to explore and try new things.

I have a renewed and restored interest in recorded music again thanks to emusic. I have downloaded thousands of tracks, most by artists I never knew before emusic. The genre breadth is incredible, and I track only 8-10 of the many genres available. Is there "trash" on emusic? Yes, but there is also a lot of trash on itunes and rhapsody -- and you pay a lot more for that trash as well.

I am happy with emusic, and there is no way I'd rely solely on the likes of itunes, rhapsody, or whatever-major-label-service to meet my musical needs.

Mark

[surfbored]

eMusic is mediocre...

eMusic is mediocre at best. I'm somewhere between the eMusic lovers and the eMusic haters.

After giving eMusic a test run with something like 20 free downloads, I found it very difficult to find tracks that I really wanted to hear more than once.

It's sometimes difficult to determine what is an original, a cover or a remix. Most songs have a preview, but these are hit-and-miss as well. Searching for something returns far too many hits that seem unrelated or marginally related.

Perhaps the biggest problem -- Some of the artists are just plain awful. Apparently anyone can get on eMusic, which in a way is good. But to have to sort through all the chaff is painful.

Hopefully eMusic will start offering some more mainstream music in addition to its "basement bands". Then, one way or another, you'll be able to get your subscription's worth.

[edmicman]

Why not a la carte?

I've found things on eMusic that I would like to buy. But I don't purchase enough music a month to justify a monthly subscription. Sure, I could do a free trial, or cancel my membership after I get what I want. But why can't I buy DRM-free MP3s on an individual basis? Let me pay 25 cents a song for 3 songs and leave it at that? Or raise it to 50 cents or 75 cents per song? I'm still out less than I would be at iTunes and for a better product, too.

[cautioninc]

I like emusic

I've been a subscriber since it was all you can eat. I couldn't tell you if they have crap or not, I still have almost 100 albums in my queue to download. I only have half the Zappa catalog.

What I like best about eMusic is their independent labels. As an old-school punk, sometimes it's the only place you can find the music, especially if the band is no more.

[TrackStar1682]

iTunes gets a lot fewer of my dollars now!

I now use emusic for most of my music downloads. I used to LOVE iTunes, but once I heard the clarity of the songs and saw just how much excellent music I could find (for cheap!) I'm using it wayyyyyy less. I enjoy being able to find cool new music and I grab it up by the album, and make CD's that I can listen to anywhere. That, and I can listen on both my iPod and my phone's MP3 player, too!

Between emusic and real CD's, iTunes hasn't stood a chance from me.

[Broadclip]

DRM-Free for FREE (and legal)

If you're looking for another alternative, check out broadclip.com. It's free and gives you as much music as you can handle.

[njckrall]

My Best Way to Listen and Keep Music

I pay for Yahoo Music, and I use TotalRecorder to record everything coming through the soundboard. It's quick and easy to go in later and "Save As" each chunk of music as a song.

So I can select 50 songs at 11 PM, start TotalRecorder (17.95 at totalrecorder.com) with a planned shut-off in 3 or 4 hours and a preset file-name, and go to bed. In the morning I can use the time-slider and selection tool (set-selection-start and set-selection-end) and Save-As, all with quick hot-keys, and in about 20 minutes, I have 50 clean MP-3s or WMA's or whatever other format I might want.

The only limit is Yahoo's selection. Most Beatles tunes, for ex are only available as karaoke-tunes.

I'm a musician practicing alot so I need access to tunes fast and cheap. This works great for me.

Nick