Uncle Skid Posted October 9, 2003 Report Share Posted October 9, 2003 Well, I guess it was just too good to last much longer... ...prior to November 8, 2003, your EMusic subscription will convert into Emusic Plus. Under EMusic Plus, you will be billed $14.99 per month for access to the service with no minimum monthly commitment, but you will be limited to no more than 65 downloads during your monthly billing cycle. Or, I could choose the "EMusic Premium" service for $50 per month, with a limit of 300 downloads. I'm not sure what I'm going to do -- I'm leaning towards cancelling my month-old subscription. It was an easy decision before -- unlimited (well, actually up to 2000) dowloads per month for $10 or $15. I was no where near that last month, but I was well above 65. They also mention "significant new labels, artists and releases as well as enhanced features". I'd bet "enhanced features" could mean some sort of DRM copy-protected or copy limited MP3's. They really had a good thing going there -- it's too bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted October 9, 2003 Report Share Posted October 9, 2003 EMusic "Plus" sounds a lot more like EMusic "Minus." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Skid Posted October 9, 2003 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2003 Indeed. It also appears that they've drastically throttled back their downloading speeds today -- either in anticipation of massive downloading, or maybe because of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noj Posted October 9, 2003 Report Share Posted October 9, 2003 (edited) Funny, they didn't offer me this Emusic Plus deal. I got some different offer Edited October 9, 2003 by Noj Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WD45 Posted October 9, 2003 Report Share Posted October 9, 2003 I'm guessing that 65 downloads means 65 tracks, not albums, yes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Nessa Posted October 9, 2003 Report Share Posted October 9, 2003 EMusic has new ownership. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WD45 Posted October 9, 2003 Report Share Posted October 9, 2003 The website still shows "unlimited" downloads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Johnson Posted October 9, 2003 Report Share Posted October 9, 2003 That blows. I was considering restarting my membership (due to the improved sound/bitrates); not any more! Thanks, emusic, for making my decision THAT much easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Skid Posted October 9, 2003 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2003 EMusic New Services Q&A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AfricaBrass Posted October 9, 2003 Report Share Posted October 9, 2003 I'm done with Emusic. I was afraid that they might follow the example of Apple's iTunes and charge a dollar a song. I guess that's where the whole mp3 thing is going. I guess it was nice while it lasted. I need to get busy and finish the Fantasy catalog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzmoose Posted October 9, 2003 Report Share Posted October 9, 2003 I'm guessing that 65 downloads means 65 tracks, not albums, yes? Oh. I was thinking that you people really need to get jobs, get out of the house, etc., but I was thinking 65 albums a month...nevermind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AfricaBrass Posted October 9, 2003 Report Share Posted October 9, 2003 (edited) Oh. I was thinking that you people really need to get jobs, get out of the house, etc., but I was thinking 65 albums a month...nevermind. I don't download at home. I don't have the free time. That's what work's for. I guess the good thing about emusic going to the dogs is that the high-speed connection at work will be high speed again. Edited October 9, 2003 by AfricaBrass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDK Posted October 9, 2003 Report Share Posted October 9, 2003 wow. Well, I guess all good (great!) things must come to an end. I was starting to feel a bit guilty for downloading several hundred albums during my recent 4-month stay there and then canceling - but now I don't feel so bad. That's quite a throttle they've thrown on their site - going from 2000 tracks per month down to just 65 for the same price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzmoose Posted October 9, 2003 Report Share Posted October 9, 2003 That's quite a throttle they've thrown on their site - going from 2000 tracks per month down to just 65 for the same price. I'll say. I never tried it, and with that limitation, I guarantee I won't be trying it in the future... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDK Posted October 9, 2003 Report Share Posted October 9, 2003 Here's the recent e-mail from e-music. These changes do suck in a lot of ways, but on the other hand the pricing still is very reasonable compared to most other legal on-line music sites. They claim that they are adding more labels in the future. We'll see... *********** Email from Emusic ************ "Dear EMusic Subscriber, Over the past several years, EMusic has stood alone in its commitment to providing digital music consumers a service that offers flexibility and portability. We remain the ONLY service offering downloads in the standard MP3 format. We are also unique in our focus on music from the leading independent labels. Unlike other services, we understand that many music consumers want to go beyond the Billboard charts. We remain firmly committed to continuing to provide avid music fans an alternative to the mainstream. The digital music industry continues to change rapidly, and EMusic also continues to evolve. The purpose of this letter is to inform you of a number of important changes that will affect EMusic Subscribers. First, we are pleased to inform you that EMusic.com Inc. is being acquired by Dimensional Associates LLC ("Dimensional"), a private equity group focused on providing innovative online music distribution services. Dimensional shares EMusic's consumer focused philosophy of providing low cost, convenient access to great music. Dimensional plans to continue enhancing the EMusic service with new features and content and you can look forward to hearing more once the acquisition has been completed. Although our current privacy policy remains in effect, http://www.emusic.com/help/privacy_policy.html when the acquisition is completed, EMusic's privacy policy will be changing to reflect Dimensional's ownership and your Personal Information (as defined in the privacy policy) will be transferred to Dimensional. Please take a few moments to review this our new policy which will take effect around October 30, 2003. http://www.emusic.com/help/privacypolicy.html As always, EMusic is firmly committed to consumer privacy and we believe the new policy continues to reinforce this. As an avid digital music fan, you are also aware that the music industry continues to suffer under intense financial, legal and technological pressure. As a provider of music downloads, EMusic is subject to a complex system of intellectual property rights and technological challenges that impose high costs and often uncertain risks on the company. In order to respond to these ongoing challenges and maintain a compelling service for our valued customers, EMusic will be making a number of significant changes in the coming weeks and months. As part of these changes, we will be discontinuing the unlimited service plan and replacing it with a new service offering. Unless you visit the link below: http://help.emusic.com/cu/index.cgi?cmd=st...categoryID=1198 and notify us of your intention to cancel your subscription prior to November 8, 2003, your EMusic subscription will convert into EMusic Basic. Under EMusic Basic, you will be billed $9.99 per month for access to the service with no minimum monthly commitment, but you will be limited to no more than 40 downloads during your monthly billing cycle. In addition, EMusic is pleased to present a special, limited time offer available exclusively to current subscribers - EMusic Premium. Designed for our most active subscribers, this plan allows you to download up to 300 tracks per month (approximately 25 albums) for a monthly charge of $50.00 - a price of just 16 cents per track - with no minimum monthly commitment. If you are interested in registering for this subscription plan, you must complete the EMusic XL registration form no later than November 8, 2003. http://help.emusic.com/cu/index.cgi?cmd=st...categoryID=1998 You will still have unparalleled access to the best MP3s available from independent music labels around the world. You will continue to have the ability to download this music, take it with you and play it wherever and however you like. And, over the next several months EMusic will be adding significant new labels, artists and releases as well as enhanced features. EMusic remains committed to providing the best MP3 service on the Internet. We continue to believe that EMusic is the best value available and like you, we are passionate about our music. We believe that the changes we are making today will enable us to provide an even more compelling service. To learn more about the new service offering, please go to http://www.emusic.com/messages/qanda.html and read our revised terms and conditions at http://www.emusic.com/bem/new_signup/terms.html which will be effective as of November 8, 2003. If, for any reason, you decide that you do not want to become a member of the EMusic services as described above, you may cancel at any time during the trial period. As always, if you have a specific question about these changes or need additional help with your service, the following site will guide you through our customer service process. http://help.emusic.com/emhelp/ Thank you for being an EMusic Subscriber." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDK Posted October 9, 2003 Report Share Posted October 9, 2003 Someone mentioned the site being very slow today. My guess is that everyone's trying to download their old "unlimited" limit before the new limit goes into effect next month. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soulstation1 Posted October 9, 2003 Report Share Posted October 9, 2003 i'm glad i only signed up for a month, otherwise i'd be very pissed signing up for the year contract. can they make you fulfill your contract, if the rules and such are changed? ss1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mule Posted October 9, 2003 Report Share Posted October 9, 2003 Yeah, this new system stinks compared to what we enjoyed previous. However, I agree that when the average download service charges $1 a tune, 40 tunes for $10 or 65 for $15 is still a bargain. It's nowhere near as good a bargain as it once was, but I'm not cancelling yet.... And, yes, for the first time since I've been on EMusic the download system was all jammed up this morning... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AfricaBrass Posted October 9, 2003 Report Share Posted October 9, 2003 I thought iTunes' $1 a song fee was insane. I've always thought of mp3s as being second rate. My experience with mp3s is that they have functioned as a way of finding new music. I find that if I really like something, I'll buy the cd. Emusic was great for that. I found a lot of stuff I wouldn't normally have heard. 65 downloads for $15 just isn't worth it to me. When I first read this thread, I thought is was 65 albums a month for $15. I still thought that was too much. I've really been spoiled by the unlimited downloads. I'm canceling my membership. And yes, I can barely download anything this morning. I'm having a lot of things time out on me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randyhersom Posted October 9, 2003 Report Share Posted October 9, 2003 It's the end of eMusic as we know it. I too will be cancelling, but I'll also be checking the new releases (if they let me) and rejoining for a month when the right 65 tracks accumulate. It sure has been great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randyhersom Posted October 9, 2003 Report Share Posted October 9, 2003 Interesting that they're being acquired by a private limited partnership. Any way to find out if record company interests bought it to kill it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Johnson Posted October 9, 2003 Report Share Posted October 9, 2003 Any way to find out if record company interests bought it to kill it? I'm not usually a conspiracy theorist, and this doesn't even smack of that sort of "conspiracy," but it was one of my first thoughts as well, Randy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDK Posted October 9, 2003 Report Share Posted October 9, 2003 It's the end of eMusic as we know it. I too will be cancelling, but I'll also be checking the new releases (if they let me) and rejoining for a month when the right 65 tracks accumulate. My thoughts exactly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDK Posted October 9, 2003 Report Share Posted October 9, 2003 Interesting that they're being acquired by a private limited partnership. Any way to find out if record company interests bought it to kill it? I doubt the record companies are trying to kill it. Wasn't it (previously) owned by Universal Music? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Skid Posted October 9, 2003 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2003 I doubt the record companies are trying to kill it. Wasn't it (previously) owned by Universal Music? If the record companies aren't deliberately trying to kill it, I'm sure they wouldn't be too sad about it. I think Emusic's (original) pricing, and the fact that they provided normal MP3 files without any restrictions would really irritate the big boys, especially as they are all trying to come up with new and novel ways of making people think that paying $1 per song for digital music (on their terms) is a good deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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