eMusic prepares for November re-launch

eMusic is anxiously approaching an expected November relaunch with music from all four major record labels along with its strong push to support independent music.

Securing agreements with major record labels has to be a major priority for online radio and MP3 services looking to offer music to listeners. eMusic’s still growing music catalog currently stands at 10 million, but pending negotiations with Universal and EMI could help the number balloon up to 17 million songs.

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I applaud eMusic for trying to support independent music, but it was obvious that the company would need to distribute major content to survive. The company has operated for 12 years, and first attracted fans for its large independent music collection.

eMusic CEO Adam Klein also said a new digital music locker will be available so music listeners will be able to listen to their paid music while on the go.

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"Our users are saying you own it so you should be able to listen to it wherever you are," Klein said in an interview with Reuters. "We're deep in conversations with the labels about licensing for that."

It's a very interesting time for companies involved in online radio and music sales, as the music industry has changed and evolved so much. If eMusic wishes to survive, I'd recommend Klein follows in the footsteps of Pandora and Rhapsody -- begin with the PC with a client download and online version, and then begin developing apps for the Apple iPhone, Google Android, RIM BlackBerry, etc.

I remember using eMusic years ago to find independent music, but eventually left it behind in favor of other music alternatives. I'm unsure if the company will be able to see new success while Apple, Google, Sony, and other major companies establish their presence in the online music space.

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