There was considerable grumbling among eMusic’s 400,000-ish subscribers last year when the formerly indie-centric music download service enacted a dramatic increase in monthly user subscription fees in exchange for posting a few good chunks of the Sony catalogue. Thankfully, the service endured the backlash long enough to strike up another major-label deal, this time with Warner Music Group (and no additional price hike – so far).
The deal is a huge treat that helps ease the burn of the increased price, bringing with it classic catalogue work from the likes of Emmylou Harris, Dwight Yoakam, Randy Travis, Gram Parsons, Neil Young, Travis Tritt, Eddie Rabbitt, Linda Ronstadt, Jerry Jeff Walker and more. That’s in addition to the Dolly Parton, George Jones, Johnny Cash, Tammy Wynette, Willie Nelson, Sons of the Pioneers and others already brought in by Sony and other labels. With per-track costs averaging at about $.45 depending on your monthly plan, the newly rejuvenated service could prove quite enticing to catalogue fans who like to cherry-pick. Let’s hope deals with Universal Music Group and EMI are forthcoming.
eMusic’s blog post on the expansion can be found here. For more information, see the site itself.
I was one of the initial grumblers, but Emusic and I have reunited. Since I buy so much music in a month, it behooved me to subscribe for 200 downloads a month at 40 cents a track. I’ve already used up my downloads for the month and have to wait until Feb. 9 in order for them to refresh again. I was able to significantly increase my Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson catalogs this month though. I’ve already got a running list going for next month. Nowadays, I check emusic before going to Amazon, because I usually have good luck finding what I’m looking for there at more than half the price.
Leeann,
I have enjoyed the fact that I am now not ‘losing’ downloads every month thanks to Sony and now WB collections being added. I even like that I can now get most of Emmylou’s music (and folks can get most of Rodney Crowell’s (which I owned).
Yeah, I couldn’t benefit from the Crowell or Harris additions, since I already had them too. Even before the big companies were added, I never lost downloads though. I discovered a lot of great independent music by asking around.
I burned through my downloads early in the month on Paul Burch and old Aerosmith. I’ve been building up a huge list to conquer as soon as February 1st rolls around!
I joined eMusic in December, and it’s been a great way to pick up albums from the Sony catalog that I hadn’t gotten around to buying yet. I just downloaded The Essential Porter Wagoner the other day when my account was replenished. I’m glad to hear that the Warner catalog has been added as well.
Dang! I just bought that Wagoner set from Amazon last month without even thinking to check Emusic first. Always check Emusic!
I guess I better sign up for this. I’ve been hearing good things about eMusic for months now. And with them adding to their catalog, now seems like the best time. Thanks for the suggestion everybody.