Digital

eMusic to re-launch – may have remaining majors on board

By | Published on Thursday 16 September 2010

Subscription-based download service eMusic is reportedly close to signing up both EMI and Universal ahead of a relaunch planned for November.

The long established digital music service offers a set number of MP3 downloads a month in return for a set subscription fee. Originally the service provided music exclusively from independent labels, partly because as an MP3 service it couldn’t engage with the majors until they dropped their digital rights management demands. Since they did, Sony and then Warner have come on board, so deals with EMI and Universal would mean all the majors would be involved in the service.

According to Reuters, which has spoken to boss man Adam Klein, the new look eMusic will make more of the company’s website, which includes lots of editorial content around featured albums, open to the public – you will no longer need to enter credit card details to get inside. Klein and his team hope that being able to get a sneak preview of the eMusic platform will persuade more people to sign up. Previously eMusic’s marketing was based primarily around a free trial promotion which involved giving away downloads.

Klein has also told Reuters his company is looking into offering a digital locker service for his members, so they could listen to music they own on any net-connected device. As previously reported, such a service is thought to be at the heart of Google’s planned music platform, too.



READ MORE ABOUT: