Im thinking about switching to apple, but i am big into online streaming music. I currently use Musicmatch OnDemand which is awesome, it allows me to listen to almost any album from any artist for a reasonable monthly price. I would rather not pay 99 cents per song. Therefore I was wondering if there was any such programs like Musicmatch...or is everyone stuck with iTunes? Thanks!
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Alternitives to iTunes?
- Thread starter ACoTheDelt
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ACoTheDelt said:
We're "stuck" with iTunes.
What is a reasonable monthly price? Wouldn't you rather pay 99 cents out right for a song that you own out right 'till you can listen no more? Once you've bought your music, that's it. You own it. You can burn it to a CD (up to 5 times I think) or keep it on your computer and play it over and over forever and ever. The only catch is that iTunes music files can only be played on an iPod.
I don't understand streaming music. It's very confusing. Owning your own music library or collection just seems right. With streamed music you don't really?
I'm not aware of any streaming music apps for the Mac. Thankfully.
well, 99 cents is good for a song i guess. but why do that when i can spend $5 a month and get literally thousands of streaming songs by virtually any artist whenever i want. Amazon.com has full albums for $5 or $6 also. i just dont see the big deal about iTunes.
eMusic constantly has promotions where they give away songs for free-- any song you choose. The constant promo is 50 free mp3s, but there are also 100 or 125 song giveaways just for giving it a try (does require a CC at sign up, however). The music they carry is a bit less mainstream but if you know what you like you can find it or more artists like it. Some bigger names that they have right now-- Spoon, Modest Mouse, Interpol, My Chemical Romance, Badly Drawn Boy.. and of course, lotsa artists that most people don't know. But don't discount them!
eMusic also has a subscription based service so that you can listen to tons of songs... but I personally don't like that kind of service. I prefer to purchase the 'right' to own a copy of the song (like iTMS).
A thread discussing other iTunes alternatives can be found here.
eMusic also has a subscription based service so that you can listen to tons of songs... but I personally don't like that kind of service. I prefer to purchase the 'right' to own a copy of the song (like iTMS).
A thread discussing other iTunes alternatives can be found here.
Looks like it... Not sure if these links will work for you or not.ACoTheDelt said:
My Morning Jacket
Joan of Arc
ACoTheDelt said:
If Amazon has full albums for 5 or 6 dollars, buy the album and rip it into iTunes. Buying real CDs and ripping them is still far better than either iTunes downloads or streaming services, unless you want just a single here and there.
Uh, what? I use eMusic. The subscription DOES NOT allow you to access all the songs you want. The subscription instead allows you a certain number of downloads per month, but you KEEP the music and listen to it as long as you want, even after you've stopped paying the subscription. It costs about a quarter of what iTunes costs.devilot said:
http://www.allofmp3.com is a Russian based site with a very good English translation. I think the average song costs $0.20 there, with albums under $2. They have a lot of the same stuff iTunes does. (I think they have 300,000 while iTunes has 700,000 -- maybe less obscure stuff.) They don't limit your music to a set number of computers. You have the option to download in WMA, AAC, MP3, and more at a number of different compression rates.
According to all the research I've done, it's legal (they use a Russian loophole to make prices so low. Technically you are buying something from Russia and importing it to your state. There aren't any laws on importing mp3s from Russia -- at least in the U.S.).
According to all the research I've done, it's legal (they use a Russian loophole to make prices so low. Technically you are buying something from Russia and importing it to your state. There aren't any laws on importing mp3s from Russia -- at least in the U.S.).
I took those numbers from a review of AllofMP3 -- guess it was an old review.
In that case, I'm sure both have increased their song count since...
In that case, I'm sure both have increased their song count since...
All the subscription services use WMA which requires Windows Media Player on the PC. The version for Mac doesn't support DRMed WMA files as given out by these stores. I don't even think Real's Rhapsody streaming service works on the Mac. Sorry, you're out of luck. Then again, I always thought streaming services were dumb too, so...
Cless said:
I agree that streaming is not ideal but I do like subscriptions if they allow you to download any song you want and play so long as you continue your subscription. In the end though, I don't see the point in this if you already have much of what you want to listen to. I also hate to say it, but if you don't have what you like and a friend does ... well, you know what can happen. I certainly don't support or condone this type of activity but I am a realist and know it is VERY easy to accomplish. If you have a friend with all the music you like on his iPod, you can just borrow if for an hour or less and you'll have what you want. Heck, you can even buy new iPods on eBay fully loaded with the music of your choice. Again, I don't recommend this if you want to stay on the right side of the law. In the end, if you subscribe to one of these services, you are essentially spending up to $120 a year to listen to music you don't own.
TonySwartz said:
Yes, I agree. This is right now by far the best source out there, and as far as I can research, you can download from here with good conscience as it has not been deemed illegal. You can buy most albums for like $1.25 at 192 bitrate, but what is also cool is you can buy songs/albums in whatever codec and bitrate you want.
I believe allofmp3 is illegal even in Russia. In any event, when you buy from allofmp3, none of that money gets back to the artists at allat least with iTunes money gets back to the people who deserve it. allofmp3 may be cheap, but it's still bad for your karma.decksnap said:
Cless said:
Well I would love evidence that says it's illegal in the US, because I did spend considerable amount of time researching it to make sure it was on the up and up. I am not concerned about royalties going to the artist in this case- but to each his own- because artists make most of their money elsewhere, which is where I give it to them anyways. I am only condoning this site in so far as I believe that it is legal.
decksnap said:
Click the "Legal" link at the bottom.
"Users are responsible for any usage and distribution of all materials received from AllOFMP3.com. This responsibility depends on the local legislation of each user's country of residence. AllOFMP3.com's Administration does not keep up with the laws of different countries and is not responsible the actions of non-Russian users."
Although they fully intend non-Russians to sign up, they have a little disclaimer in there that says you "must" follow your country's laws. It's illegal in the United States.
I have read that before, and nowhere does it say that U.S. law makes it illegal. I've done a lot more digging than that and haven't found the evidence for illegality yet. Not saying you're wrong. I obviously wouldn't use it if it was illegal, so I have spent a good deal of time looking into it, and so far, seems to be within the law.
Pandora
I have been using http://www.pandora.com/ . It used to be $3 a month or 15 for the year now it is free. If you have not checked it out do so. I dont listen to my own music that often now.
I have been using http://www.pandora.com/ . It used to be $3 a month or 15 for the year now it is free. If you have not checked it out do so. I dont listen to my own music that often now.