Edited by author 04-30-2003 07:40 PM
I don't know. I've used eMusic for a couple of years now and I really like it. I also like the Apple Music service. I do wish they had an "all you can eat" price, but it's 1.0. Let's see where it goes from here. Apple has been pretty responsive lately.

Not sure I agree with this assessment. I did a search of 10 relatively popular alternative bands on Apple and then on eMusic. Not one came up on eMusic. Also, I don't like subscription services where I have to commit for a time period...in this case a year. On Apple's service, I get what I pay for when I want it...and I am pretty sure the library will be extensive. With the eMusic service I pay $120 a year no matter how much I use it...and there is no guarantee that they will have the most current selections I want.

I might try eMusic for the 3 month service...perhaps the two combined are the perfect solution.

I completely agree. Emusic is *amazing*. Now I've only got a problem with space left on the home server; 'cause I'm downloading music like crazy.

That 'lack of selection' has actually really worked in my favor; for rather than downloading stuff I knew about, I tried out a lot of stuff that was released on labels that had other acts I liked, and have found many many new bands that I'm totaly fans of now, like The Detriot Cobras. It's also gotten me into music that I probably wouldn't have gambled $20 on at the CD store, like Javanise Gamilon Folk Music recordings from the 20's. That I'm really diggin'. Who knew? :)

Well, it's interesting. As for selection, Emusic is great for people who are into more obscure stuff, such as myself. The iTunes Music Store is better if you're looking for mainstream things. Also, by definition, Emusic is better for exploration - you've subscribed already, so why not download that funky polka jam you've never heard? iTunes, of course, only has a 30-second sample - anything more and you have to pay up. So, on one level, Emusic is superior.

But Apple will end up with far more business and revenue. Here's why: although if you do the math, Emusic is a far superior value, psychologically, most people will be much more receptive to the iTunes Music Store because they only have to pay once for any given song. You can't just make an "impulse buy" on Emusic, because you either subscribe, or you don't. Most people never consider long-term costs of buying song after song, they just think of it as one payment, multiplied a few times. So I think Apple will make more money than Emusic. I'm not saying that it is better, just that it will be more successful.

EMusic average page load time and response to queries - about 2 minutes.

Number of bands I searched for that they had - zero. (Granted I looked for some oldies - but very popular stuff like J Geils, Seal, Wilson Pickett all came up nil - not to mention "Music like J Geils" linked me to Quiet Riot?).

Not too impressed.

Emusic has been great for me. I started with a 3-month subscription and switched to a 12-month when that ran out.

I download far more than one album a month that I enjoy, so it more than pays for itself that way.

That said, it really works if you're willing to explore the obscure stuff. And since it's flat rate, why not?

There's an HP promotion, which will get you 100 free tracks off emusic (instead of the normal 50), if you want to try it out:
http://www.emusic.com/promo/hppavilion/index.html?fref=36663

I love E-music. It's a good thing they exist, if only to demonstrate how much all the other attempts suck.

Why does Apple think they can charge $1 per track? Will people really pay that? They're cutting the manufacturing, distribution, and retail costs to near zero and then charging about the same price you'd pay for a CD? Then they throw in some DRM at no extra charge. What a deal.

ventedspleen, that 2 minute delay for page load and searching is ridiculous, and I've never had to suffer through any times like that in the months I've been with eMusic.

But yes, the collection is oddly limited. I'd suggest that newcomers browse the charts area and get a feel for what's popular there. I've downloaded some cool stuff I was always curious about but never wanted to pay import prices for (Belle and Sebastian).