Are You XPerienced?

Almost too much going on to keep straight. First up is probably MusicMatch's entry into the downloadable music space. I haven't checked that out yet, as MusicMatch has this annoying tendency to crash my computer, and unless you buy the full version, they're not terribly interested in helping me figure that out.

Then, most recently, Apple has introduced the Windows version of it's insanely popular iTunes software and music store. Except that I can't use it, because it only works with Windows 2000 or XP. Mostly because I'm not terribly satisfied with my current media jukebox software, I'm tempted to upgrade to XP for iTunes, which, in principle, scares me. Technically, I have a copy of XP on a CD around here somewhere, but it was from a problematic install back while I was still at RollingStone.com, so it's unclear if it will actually, you know, work.

Sandwiched between those two stories was the acquisition of EMusic by some private equity firm in New York, or some such, and the fallout from that has had the most impact on your humble correspondent, as I've been a paid EMusic subscriber ever since they stopped comping my account. Anyway, the interesting bit is that EMusic is no longer going to compete with the likes of KaZaa and Morpheus, and instead get more serious about going toe-to-toe with the aforementioned MusicMatch and iTunes. Which means that quasi-unlimited downloads no longer makes sense as a business model. Now they'll be limiting users to 45 downloads a month for the $9.99 fee.

So I'll be getting off that particular train. I don't mind so much that they're getting rid of the "unlimited-as-long-as-it's-less-than-2000-tracks" notion, because I know that couldn't possibly have been making them any money. It's just that 45 tracks is not enough for a subscription-based service. Part of the value of the old model was always that, if you never got around to downloading any music one month, you could make up for it in the next. Now, in order to get value for your downloadable dollar, you've got to make sure you get all your tracks every month, and that's simply more effort than I feel comfortable giving in this relationship.

To be fair, EMusic has always made their money on the people who don't take full advantage every month, but now that it's been codified so stringently, I just don't really like it. So I've got a couple of weeks to get the rest of what I can get from them, and then maybe it's off to give Bill Gates money in order to give Steve Jobs money. God bless the Internet!