Music industry watch

EMusic now joins the rank of suck

After mp3.com got shutdown I was wondering what EMusic.com's fate was going to be. Rumors had it that it was going to be sold to someone who cared about the service and was going to continue it.

I had high hopes, but it turns that EMusic is turning into a steaming pile of crap. They will discontinue their popular all you can download model and turn it into an ill fated high priced limited downloads for too much money model. 40 downloads for $10 or the premium package of 60 downloads a month for $15.

Under the old and cool model you could download 40 tracks in no time flat and then dig through them at your own leisure -- I still have tons of tracks that I haven't inspected yet -- I just downloaded all I could before my subscription ran out. I really miss that model -- I got a lot of good music that way.

This new model smells and looks waay too much like PressPlay. Press what? Yes, the janky download service that is quickly being eclipsed by iTunes, BuyMusic and MusicMatch. I give Emusic.com less than a year before it folds -- this new model is the worst possible way to offer the service. EMusic worked because it struck a careful balance between the less-than-major-label music it offered and a reasonable download model. Now with a crappy, restricted-major-label model and indie artists music, there is no way for them to suvive the onslaught of other online download services.

When I first started working at GoodNoise (then EMuisc) we set out to change the music industry. Alas, in the EMusic rolled over and succumed to the recording industry crap. Should we have a pool for when the service shuts down???

Posted by Mayhem at October 9, 2003 12:47 PM