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