Very interesting. It’s only been a few years since I was working in the eMusic licensing department reviewing their agreements, and at the time, I would never have imagined that a deal like this could happen.
To be completely realistic, this is very bad for independent music. The introduction of Sony’s catalogue to eMusic has caused subscription prices to skyrocket. A look at their forums or blog shows hundreds of users crying out about the effects this deal is having on their accounts. Users that previously paid a monthly fee for 90 downloads will now be charged that same fee — or one that’s very close — for 50 downloads. That nearly doubles the price per track. My own plan, which ran $75 a month for 300 downloads is being downgraded to a plan that costs $43 a month for 100.
So what does that actually mean? It means I will be downloading less independent music. When my total number of downloads is decreased and my price per track is increased, I am less likely to risk trying out an album I haven’t heard of. I am not talking about Pitchfork’s “Best New Music”. I am talking about real independent music — the type of music that depends on early adopters like me or other eMusic users to ever make it to a site like Pitchfork.
So once again a major label fucks over artists that aren’t even in the same ecosystem. Is that really worth it for a few older albums most people could find for cheaper in a bargain bin, digital or otherwise?
