High class and high fidelity--with one monthly catch.
eMusic's layout is more magazine than music store, and it works.
Is this a store or a sanctuary? While other sites seem content to merely sell you songs, eMusic’s emphasis on discovering new music offers an ongoing experience. Aimed at a sophisticated audience with eclectic tastes, eMusic (www.emusic.com) incorporates both links to artists’ Wikipedia pages and embedded YouTube videos into an elegant design that makes it simple to browse its 6 million tracks and thousands of audiobooks. And classical fans will appreciate front-and-center options to search by composer or conductor.
What’s the catch? eMusic requires you sign up for monthly subscription plans that cost $11.99, $15.89, or $20.79, allowing 24, 35, and 50 song downloads, respectively, per month. Separate audiobook-specific plans get you one book credit a month for $9.99 or two for $19.99 (most books cost one credit). Gift subscriptions are also available, and eMusic’s files--DRM-free variable bit rate MP3s, most with an average bit rate of 256kbps--remain yours even after you cancel your monthly plan. eMusic’s offerings may not be for everyone, but being part of a small community that cares about quality and good taste doesn’t sound bad to us. After all, we use Macs.
The 9 million-song gorilla gives iTunes a run for its money.
Cluttered? Sure... cluttered with bargains, that is!
With more than 9 million tracks, Amazon MP3 (www.amazon.com/mp3-music-download) probably has what you’re looking for when the urge to shop strikes. If only finding music was more streamlined. The site’s busy design looks and feels more like a clunky database than a music store, though the sorting options that appear in search results help keep things moving. Songs--variable bit rate, DRM-free MP3 files with average bit rates of 256kbps--start at $0.89 and rise to $0.99 and $1.29, much like iTunes. Unlike iTunes, most albums hover between $5.99 and $9.99, and frequent specials drive prices even lower. Many albums on iTunes (if not most) can be found cheaper on Amazon MP3. Downloading them is made easy by the Amazon MP3 Downloader, a Mac-native application that can export tracks to iTunes when the shopping is done. Gifting is available through Amazon’s easily emailed cards, and all told, price and selection make Amazon MP3 hugely worthwhile.
The former king of pirated tracks now offers legal songs... but forgot the price tags.
Napster's lack of prices squelches our urge to shop.
After shedding its image as a file-sharing troublemaker, Napster (www.napster.com) next abandoned its diehard adherence to subscription-only music sales to offer Napster Light, which offers à la carte DRM-free MP3 downloads encoded at 256kbps (some at 128kbps). Like Rhapsody, Napster steers you toward plans that start at $7 a month and allow unlimited streaming of its music videos, Internet radio stations, and more than 8 million songs. These plans are optional if all you want to do is buy MP3s, but because their extra features aren’t fully unlocked until you pony up for a plan, Napster feels like half a store if you’re not paying monthly. Selling MP3s seems like an afterthought, and nothing says that more than Napster’s lack of prices.
No, really--Napster doesn’t display album or song prices. Incredibly, you have to mouse over a tiny icon to learn how much an album costs (most are $9.95), and song prices are simply unavailable until you buy one (they’re $.99 or $1.29). We’re all for keeping things simple, but Napster’s solution stinks. Do we need to mention that the lack of an OS X–native download manager forces Mac users to download one track at a time, or that its text-heavy store design feels chilly and soulless? Didn’t think so.
Next Page: More iTunes Competitors >>
pandora
May 12, 2010 at 7:22pm
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loveyourmusic
January 20, 2010 at 12:17pm
There seems to be an unstated assumption that buying MP3 downloads is the only game in town for getting digital music. I guess if you're on an iTunes user it is, which is why this article is written the way it is (seeing as this is on a Mac-focused site). Streaming music on demand and taking subscription music with you are both awesome options that you can't do with iTunes. The way this articles is written it's like having a car article that says all other cars are terrible compared to the Pontiac Aztec -- because the Aztec is the only car that turns into a camper. So you focus on one feature, while ignoring everything else. Are you interested in this new Porsche? Not unless it turns into a camper!
I agree with the article's assessment that both Napster and Rhapsody are very poor competitors to iTunes if all you want to do is download MP3s. But these services best features are not MP3 downloads. MP3 downloads are a minor add on. Where they shine is in streaming tracks on demand and taking subscription music with you. You can stream most songs in their catalog whenever you want starting at $7 (Napster) and $12 (Rhapsody). With their To Go plans and a capable portable media player you can take all the music you want with you for $15/month. The MP3 downloads are just a little extra benefit. These are features that iTunes doesn't support. It also doesn't mention Zune, which has very similar capabilities and price points (but is only available for PCs).
I also like how the review of eMusic doesn't mention perhaps its biggest asset -- it's so damn cheap! Even the summary at the end just says "monthly plan," where the others have prices. Depending on the plan, eMusic's tracks end up costing 40-60 cents each. That's one third to a half the price of iTunes. Think that might be worth mentioning?
So yeah, if you want to download MP3s, nothing blows away iTunes. But if you are open to more options like on-demand streaming and taking subscription tracks with you, there are way better options for getting music than iTunes.
What do you think? Maybe I'm the one who doesn't get it. Is it me, or does this article not give other sites a fair shake?
__________________________________________________________________________
LoveYourMusic.tv -- helping you love your music more, one blog post at a time.
surf243
January 20, 2010 at 11:35am
Interesting review... However, I did find this site awhile ago, but I don't know if it's legit or not. Songs are typically $.14/each and albums are usually around $2-$3.
http://www.soundsbox.comHas anyone ever used it before?
jeffhendricks
January 19, 2010 at 8:27pm
Interesting.. Too bad the apple itunes works better than any others. Too bad they didn't invent the e cig or apple would have taken over the world.
