San Diego answer for digital music (not about eDig)
By: BRADLEY J. FIKES - Staff Writer
Apple's iTunes popularized legal Internet music downloading, and more companies are jumping in. Last week, Roxio, the maker of CD-burning software, said it would take the name of its Napster unit and focus exclusively on digital music.
San Diego, where the digital music business first took off with MP3.com, provides a better solution. It's eMusic.com, which delivers music through the Internet with near-perfect ease and perfect legality.
I had heard of eMusic a while ago, but didn't sign up for it until recently. I can't believe I waited so long. Although the music selection is limited, there's more than enough to satisfy music lovers of all tastes.
Start with ease of use. The basic service costs $10 a month, and gets you 40 song downloads a month. You get 50 free downloads to start, and can cancel before your credit card is billed.
The Web site is a pleasure to navigate. Finding the music is as simple as typing in the name of an artist, album or song. Even the limited selection of 400,000 songs includes more desirable music than you'll ever have time to listen to.
Edith Piaf, the archetypical French torch singer, is represented by five albums. These include such classic songs as her burning "No Regrets," the haunting French-language "Theme de Exodus" and her signature song, "La Vie En Rose."
If that kind of music doesn't satisfy, there's Billy Bragg, Bad Religion, Bob Marley, Dead Can Dance, The Cramps, Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, Sun Ra, Violent Femmes and They Might Be Giants.
Tragically, Britney Spears, Milli Vanilli and Zamfir, Master of the Pan Flute, are not included.
Downloading the music couldn't be easier. It's in standard MP3 format, meaning there's no restrictive copy protection. You are even encouraged to make backup copies and put the songs on your portable music player.
The no-hassle policy extends to Web browser and operating system. I signed up on a Linux computer, running the Mozilla browser. The company offers download manager software, but it is not mandatory. You can download just by right-clicking the song icon and saving to your hard drive, as I did.
By providing quality music, for a very low cost, without treating customers as criminals, eMusic is fair to artists, music companies and customers. This approach, not that of iTunes or the new Napster, should be digital music's future.
Contact staff writer Bradley J. Fikes at bfikes@nctimes.com or (760) 739-6641.
