| DRM Free is the only way I'd buy music online I've already bought Barenaked Ladies songs online as DRM free MP3s. I'd consider eMusic, but I'm not sure about the monthly subscription fee. I might not download enough music to make it worth my money. (Plus, they don't let you browse their artists before signing up.) Still, I'd buy from them before buying a track on another service that locked your purchased music up with tons of restrictions. I don't care if the restrictions are easily bypassed (e.g. burning to CD from iTunes and then ripping to MP3), I want to just buy my music and be able to use it as I please. |
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amungusPremium
join:2004-11-26
America Reviews:
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1 edit | Well, actually I've used eMusic, and I must say that it rocks.
You can search their catalog. It took me a bit at first, but I wanted to do exactly that myself before giving them a cent.
»www.emusic.com/search.html
Also, you can just put up some dough, buy some music, and then cancel. They just want to keep you coming back for more, which, if you find any music you like, might be worth it.
Just my 2 cents. If they had more major label stuff, I'd have no trouble at all keeping a subscription with them.
Either way, if you can find music you like there, it's well worthwhile. Unbeatable prices, NO DRM, and a very easy to use client downloader. |
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 major marcoRes Firma Mitescere NescitPremium
join:2003-02-13
Stepford, CA | said by amungus:Well, actually I've used eMusic, and I must say that it rocks. I second that. The only bitch I have ever had with eMusic is that when you want to cancel, they don't do so out the gate. They sit on the notice of your cancellation for like a week or 2. But if you don't have a problem with $10.00/month, then don't sweat it. The DRM-free music selection is worth it and there are a boatload of outstanding indie bands that you otherwise would never hear on Clear Channel Sux radio.
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The Toll
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| reply to amungus
Thanks for the link. I'll check it out. It looks like their cheapest plan is $9.99 per month for 30 songs. Given that the usual amount per song is $0.99 per song, I would only need to download 11 songs per month to make it worthwhile.
Still, I think I prefer the pay-per-download model rather than the pay-per-month subscription model. There are quite a few months where I don't care about any new songs. If I got charged $9.99 in a month where I didn't download any songs, my price per song would skyrocket in the months where I did buy songs.
I do appreciate eMusic for providing DRM-free MP3s though and wish them well. I just don't think the subscription model works out too well for my listening habits. |
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| reply to Jason Levine
»www.emusic.com/browse/all.html
You should give it a try. The lowest service is $10 so you are risking about as much as if you were to go out and buy one cd.
I was skeptical about subscriptions, but at 33c a track it tends to promote a willingness to graze and try new things. When you buy by the track(and at $1+ a track)you tend to only buy things that you already know you like, but you also can miss out on things worth listening to, so both approaches have their benefits. |
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| reply to Jason Levine
You should have a look around magnatune as well. Drm free, try before you buy, and you have flexibility in paying what you think the material is worth.
»www.magnatune.com/ |
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