eMusic Approaches 100 Million Paid Downloads – If They Can Keep Their Site Up
eMusic, the number 2 digital download store behind iTunes, is nearing the 100 million paid downloads milestone. eMusic should hit the mark within “the next few weeks” according to its website. eMusic started its download ticker on November 1st, 2003, the point at which the company moved away from an unlimited monthly download model. Unfortunately, when you try to go to the store today you’re hit with:
eMusic Temporarily Unavailable
We’re sorry but eMusic is unavailable at the moment. We appreciate your patience and apologize for this inconvenience.
Please enter your email address below, and we’ll drop you an email as soon we are back online.
If eMusic comes back online the person to download the 100th million track will receive a lifetime eMusic subscription, and inclusion within an upcoming print advertising campaign. In addition, the pop rock group Barenaked Ladies will write a song for the winner.
eMusic is targeted towards an audience that prefers lesser-known indies over mainstream artists and radio hits. Depending on the specific tier, the company offers its users a fixed number of downloads per month, part of a hybrid subscription and download model. And eMusic offers all of its tracks as open MP3s, enabling iPod compatibility. Meanwhile, Apple has crossed the 1.5 billion mark on its iTunes Store, a number that eclipses eMusic and other competing download providers.
