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