Former MP3.com archive finds online home

Online music company GarageBand has gained access to the huge archive of music by unsigned and independent bands that was once operated by MP3.com, and it will reopen the hosting service for musicians. The MP3.com domain was purchased last year by News.com publisher CNET Networks, which said it was not given the option to acquire the archive but would instead launch a new hosting service for independent musicians. The archive was instead acquired by Trusonic, a former division of MP3.com, which has now partnered with GarageBand, according to a Tuesday announcement by GarageBand.

Former MP3.com artists can visit www.mp3isback.com to have their songs transferred automatically to a new Web page on GarageBand, the company said. Musicians will be able to store three songs for free on the new site, with a $6.99 charge for each additional song, or a $99 one-time fee for unlimited space.