| eMusic is a major player in the iPod music downloads | | | | Stripes, The Prodigy and Mobi. And they're continually |
| business. They are one of the pioneers and rank | | | | increasing them regularly as the DRM free movement |
| second only to iTunes. They have a diverse catalogue | | | | is spreading. America is behind the Europeans in that |
| of primarily independent music labels. All their music is in | | | | regard. eMusic's Interface So like I mentioned, eMusic |
| MP3 format and works on any platform. They also | | | | only has MP3s, encoded at a variable bit rate (VBR). |
| have very extensive editorial content, archived shows | | | | So you won't have a problem transferring your tunes |
| and events. eMusic's Advantages One of their | | | | to your iPod, your CD burner or any portable player. All |
| greatest advantages is all their music downloads are in | | | | the tunes are accessed through your Web browser or |
| MP3 format and DRM free! That means, unlike iTunes, | | | | with the free Download Manager. One note of caution |
| Yahoo Music and so many others, you not only own | | | | is if you download from your Web browser you'll need |
| your music, but it continues to play when you | | | | to disable eMusic's Download Manager from your |
| discontinue your membership with eMusic. And you | | | | account preferences. Then you'll have to change the |
| can play your tunes on any portable PDA or your | | | | file extensions to .mp3 because the file will be |
| computer. The sad fact about copy protecting music | | | | downloaded with an unknown file extension. That's |
| with DRM is the version varies from one company to | | | | easy to do, just right click the file and choose |
| the next. For instance, you can only play your DRM | | | | "Rename" and change the extension to mp3. |
| protected iTunes on your iPod, iPhone or your desktop | | | | Summary On the eMusic site, you can search for |
| with the iTunes player installed. According to The New | | | | tunes by the artist's name, album, track, label, or |
| York Times: "A major difference between eMusic's | | | | composer. Their 12 genres include Alternative, Punk, |
| service and other online music stores is that the tracks | | | | Country, Folk, Electronic and Jazz. As previously |
| are delivered in the unprotected MP3 format, which | | | | mentioned, the bulk of their tunes are from independent |
| means... that the songs will play on all portable music | | | | artists but you'll find quite a few from the major record |
| players, including the Apple iPod(R)" Another | | | | labels. They have around 2.8 million high quality MP3 |
| advantage of eMusic is the music is totally legal to | | | | files from over 13,00 independent music labels. And you |
| download, unlike the prevalent P2P file sharing sites. | | | | won't find a lot of them on competing download sites |
| Don't get me wrong, many of the top unlimited music | | | | or music stores. eMusic's online interface is ridiculously |
| download sites are definitely legal, to a certain respect. | | | | easy to use. It allows you to download entire albums |
| One of the things I really like about eMusic is they let | | | | at a time. There is a review section and a star rating |
| you download 25 songs free before you have to pay | | | | for each file. Their FAQs are well written and they |
| the minimum $9.99 per month for 30 songs. So the 25 | | | | respond very quickly to emails for support. They offer |
| free ones is almost like a month's worth of downloads | | | | a 2 week trial allowing you to download 25 tunes for |
| for nothing.Not to mention the 33 cents per song blows | | | | starters before you have to pay the tiny monthly fee. |
| away MSN and iTunes 99 cents per song. And it's | | | | One tip though when you start your membership, is to |
| even less with the other levels with 50 and 75 songs | | | | be sure you download ALL your allotted songs for the |
| per month at $14.99 and $19.99 respectively! One slight | | | | month because you can't carry them over to the next |
| disadvantage with eMusic is although they offer millions | | | | month! |
| of music tracks; they're primarily "indie" or independent | | | | Sid Nelson is an avid iPod user. His site at includes |
| artists. But, all their music is legitimately licensed from | | | | reviews on some of the top iPod unlimited music |
| independent record labels so you don't have to be | | | | download sites. It aslo includes an associates store |
| concerned about downloading illegal files. They do | | | | featuring DRM free MP3s, iPods and accessories. |
| have some major labels like Johnny Cash, The White | | | | |