Why is the online music idea going so poorly?

Will Napster really take off?

Published on October 13, 2003 By KarmaGirl In Personal Computing

So, after the Buymusic.com idea was thrown out the window (please read my previous articles if you don't know what I am talking about) I decided to keep looking for a service. After reading some articles, I ended up at eMusic.com. After reading everything, it seemed like an OK service. I,however, was not too thrilled about the membership (versus single purchases that buymusic has) but I really want to be able to just download a few song now and then when I think of it. They also have a "free" trial, but if you don't cancel it starts your membership.

So, I read all the faqs and everything, and it doesn't have anything that says that you have to be in the US to use it. Since I have a satellite connection, buymusic.com say my connection as out of the US, so I assume that others will do the same. So, I email eMusic and ask them if it will work with my satellite connection. Here is the 'cliff notes' version of the email exchange:
ME: I'm interested in your service. I have DirecWay satellite and don't want to waste time setting up an account only to find out I can't use it. How do you treat satellite connections
THEM: We suggest setting up a free trial to see if it works.

OK second email:
ME: I guess you didn't understand that I didn't want to waste time setting up an account if you aren't compatible with satellite connections. I have DirecWay.
THEM: Some work and some don't. We suggest setting up an account. It's your decision if you use the service or not.

OK, third email
ME: I don't understand why you wouldn't know if it would work or not. If I can't get a simple support question answered before I give you my credit card, how can I expect support afterward?
THEM: (well, they haven't responded to it, and it was sent about a week ago)

So, I guess they pretty much rate with BuyMusic, which is unfortunate.

But, on my wanderings, I was looking at "pressplay". While I was there, I noticed the little Napster symbol all over. I went to the press section and read this: http://www.napster.com/pressrelease/pr_030519.html It appears that Roxio bought Pressplay and is now going to use Napster technology to run it. The site is now www.napster.com It looks like it will be like buymusic.com, but using Napster technology (which we all assumed that they should do). It launches on the 29th, so I plan to go back then and check it out. Hopefully it has better support than BuyMusic and eMusic

The price at Napster sounds appealing, too. Of course, I'm still waiting for iTunes for the PC.......

Comments

JeremyG

on Oct 13, 2003

I think the short answer to why online music services suck is because the recording industry hasnt put their money behind it yet.

Further more, I suggest that if you want to pay for your music to support musicians that you DON'T buy from online music distributors. They're just one more middle man taking a cut of the money.

KarmaGirl

on Oct 13, 2003

So, where do you buy music from? If you buy it from the stores, the distributors *and* the store take a cut. But, that is just how retail works. I highly doubt that the artist would make nearly as much if they tried to sell their music on their own.

Larry Kuperman

on Oct 14, 2003

Apple Music has sold more than 10 million tracks at $0.99 per since April 28th. Napster, MusicMatch, Rhapsody have launched on-line services, soon to be followed by Dell, America On Line and Amazon. On line sales of music will be a major business this year, serving tens of millions of songs to millions of users.

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