Music download services

[Ghoulish Delight]

Okay, so there's iTunes. Hooray iTunes. But I've become enamored with the Napster/AOL Music Now model. Namely, $15 monthly fee = unlimited downloads that remain yours to put on your MP3 player for as long as you're a member. With the option of then paying 99 cents if you want it permanently or want to burn a cd.

Only problem is...they don't work with iPod.

I found another service, emusic.com, which gives you completely unrestricted mp3 files that can be used on iPod, burned as many times as you want, etc. Really great, but because of such a permissive deal, they are mostly about indie music and such. Which is indeed cool, and if in a quick browse, it seems that they have the majority of the music that I've purchased in the past year, so it might be a perfect fit. But just in case it isn't, anyone know of any other good download services that are iPod compatible?

[Not Afraid]

I just buy the music and rip it to my storage drive. I find that this is much better for me and keeps me in control of my music. I won't be buying music from iTunes any longer because, if you switch drives or devices, you have issues playing the music you've already purchased. There's probably a work around, but I am tired of iTunes making my life difficult.

[FEJ]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

I found another service, emusic.com, which gives you completely unrestricted mp3 files that can be used on iPod, burned as many times as you want, etc. Really great, but because of such a permissive deal, they are mostly about indie music and such. Which is indeed cool, and if in a quick browse, it seems that they have the majority of the music that I've purchased in the past year, so it might be a perfect fit. But just in case it isn't, anyone know of any other good download services that are iPod compatible?

I have been using eMusic for about 6 months now and I love it. Yes, it is more indie and obscure music, but I like that. I also like the pure MP3 format that is transferable everywhere. I have found some great old albums and compilations there, as well as remixes and tribute albums.

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

....if you switch drives or devices, you have issues playing the music you've already purchased. There's probably a work around, but I am tired of iTunes making my life difficult.

I have not encountered any problems besides authorizing the computer to play the purchased music. You can have up to 5 computers authorized to play your songs. If you have multiple iTunes accounts (i,e, you and Euro have separate iTunes accounts) then there might be an issue. I move my music between devices and drives all the time with no problem.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by ubergeek42

I have been using eMusic for about 6 months now and I love it. Yes, it is more indie and obscure music, but I like that. I also like the pure MP3 format that is transferable everywhere. I have found some great old albums and compilations there, as well as remixes and tribute albums.

Cool, good to hear. It's rare that I'm looking to purchase mainstream anyway, so I have a feeling I'll like eMusic. Do you find yourself hitting the monthly download limits often?

[FEJ]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

Cool, good to hear. It's rare that I'm looking to purchase mainstream anyway, so I have a feeling I'll like eMusic. Do you find yourself hitting the monthly download limits often?

Sometimes. Then I just add more songs or put it in my "Save for later" file. Some months I come across a bunch of "Must Have Now" selections.

[Ghoulish Delight]

That's one reason why I kinda want to avoid itunes.

What's great about Napster & Music nOw is that you can listen to the music without buying it. No guess work, not commitment.

[Gemini Cricket]

Me likes to own what I listens to. That's my problem. I try to back up what I buy on CD. I also have a back up of everything on an external hard drive. I just updated my back up this weekend.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

Me likes to own what I listens to. That's my problem. I try to back up what I buy on CD. I also have a back up of everything on an external hard drive. I just updated my back up this weekend.

I do like the emusic option for that reason. I just need to be sure the selection is good enough.

My sister's got a great system with Music Now. She's got the $10 subscription, which allows you to listen on your computer, but not on a player. She'll listen to an album on her computer...and then if she finds herself in the car wishing she were listening to it, she buys it (from elsewhere since she's got an iPod). I'd do that...but I don't listen to music when I'm home for the most part, so feh. That's why iPod compatibility is important. If I'm going to do a try-before-I-buy thing, it's gotta be able to go with me.

[Not Afraid]

Yeah, we're working our way through ripping all 1000+ cds. I like actually owning music too in some hard-copy form.

[Gemini Cricket]

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

Yeah, we're working our way through ripping all 1000+ cds. I like actually owning music too in some hard-copy form.

Do you put all of the songs on a CD into your iTunes library? I started to do that when I first got iTunes and then I thought, 'I'll never listen to some of these songs...'
My good friend Lee does that and she has 1000+ CDs. She has no room on her computer for anything else...