Comments on: More of the good stuff http://17dots.com/2009/05/31/more-of-the-good-stuff/ notes from the digital underground Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:55:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Epic #Fail: Blog Censorship | Janet Lee Johnson | The Art of Marketing http://17dots.com/2009/05/31/more-of-the-good-stuff/comment-page-39/#comment-138513 Epic #Fail: Blog Censorship | Janet Lee Johnson | The Art of Marketing Wed, 13 Oct 2010 10:32:42 +0000 http://17dots.com/?p=1691#comment-138513 [...] for even more fun, check out the original post over on the eMusic blog - there have been (so far) 867 comments, many with salty language that hasn’t been removed, [...] [...] for even more fun, check out the original post over on the eMusic blog – there have been (so far) 867 comments, many with salty language that hasn’t been removed, [...]

]]> By: Seth http://17dots.com/2009/05/31/more-of-the-good-stuff/comment-page-39/#comment-137140 Seth Wed, 30 Jun 2010 01:43:39 +0000 http://17dots.com/?p=1691#comment-137140 I ended up canceling for 3 months. I now buy a couple albums a month on the 11.99 plan, but gone are the days of taking a gamble on albums. I imagine that Independent artists and their music are getting less notice and being "discovered" less often via emusic. I ended up canceling for 3 months. I now buy a couple albums a month on the 11.99 plan, but gone are the days of taking a gamble on albums. I imagine that Independent artists and their music are getting less notice and being “discovered” less often via emusic.

]]> By: martin http://17dots.com/2009/05/31/more-of-the-good-stuff/comment-page-39/#comment-136669 martin Sun, 20 Jun 2010 10:48:22 +0000 http://17dots.com/?p=1691#comment-136669 Is it now the case that all tracks longer than 10 minutes automatically cause it to be only downloadable with a complete album purchase using at least 12 credits? Is it now the case that all tracks longer than 10 minutes automatically cause it to be only downloadable with a complete album purchase using at least 12 credits?

]]> By: eMusic makes me a sad panda - My Habari http://17dots.com/2009/05/31/more-of-the-good-stuff/comment-page-39/#comment-136642 eMusic makes me a sad panda - My Habari Fri, 18 Jun 2010 22:01:53 +0000 http://17dots.com/?p=1691#comment-136642 [...] I've been a happy happy joy joy subscriber at eMusic since 2005. I wasn't sure what I thought initially when Lee clued me into it (indie music being a new thing for me), but after that first month I was hooked. Took me a few months and then I bumped up to the annual subscription option. Until recently, my most recent subscription plan worked out to $16/month, which got me 90 tracks a month. Not bad considering the $0.99/track (or $9.99/album) you'd get at iTunes (not sure how their current pricing scheme works out, but it's close enough for this discussion). The key distinction to me revolved around the subscription scheme instead of a-la-carte (so they've charge less but presumably can expect a steady flow of cash coming in) and the emphasis on indie music labels. So the biggest complaint for many potential consumers (and the reason they left after their initial 30 free tracks) was the lack of mainstream/top 40/major label music. But eMusic filled a nice niche for those of us who were more interested in finding cool new music that was outside the mainstream. If you wanted mainstream stuff, you could always go to iTunes, Amazon, Walmart, Rhapsody, Napster, etc etc. But eMusic was fantastic for indie stuff. At the price point they were charging (especially for my "grandfathered" subscription), you could try stuff out even if you'd never heard of it, and even if you did end up with a fair bit of chaff, there was still plenty of wheat in there to make it a good deal. And it exposed indie artists to a much wider audience (I know I ended up buying physical CDs for a bunch of stuff I picked up on eMusic to support the artists I really enjoyed).That was all until recently when they announced that they'd signed a deal to get access to some of Sony's back-catalog (i.e., stuff that's at least a couple years old), were eliminating all grandfathered subscriptions, and putting in a significant price hike for all. I believe just prior to this, you could get 50 tracks a month for $16. The new plan they plan on switching me over to as soon as my current annual subscription runs out is 35 tracks a month for $16. I can accept that they may need to cut back on plans like mine due to the incredibly low price per track, but such a drastic change makes me want to kick them to the curb as soon as my contract's up and take my business elsewhere. Really seems like they should give existing subscribers the option to keep their existing plan (or at least the previous incarnation, before the recent hike) and restrict us to the indie labels. I really couldn't give a rat's ass about the major label stuff. As I said, if I wanted it, I'd go elsewhere. I came to eMusic for what made them different. But now that their wanting to be like everyone else. Guess I'll need to find some place new to get my indie music fix. :(CEO's blog post and the ~1500 mostly negative posts about this [...] [...] I've been a happy happy joy joy subscriber at eMusic since 2005. I wasn't sure what I thought initially when Lee clued me into it (indie music being a new thing for me), but after that first month I was hooked. Took me a few months and then I bumped up to the annual subscription option. Until recently, my most recent subscription plan worked out to $16/month, which got me 90 tracks a month. Not bad considering the $0.99/track (or $9.99/album) you'd get at iTunes (not sure how their current pricing scheme works out, but it's close enough for this discussion). The key distinction to me revolved around the subscription scheme instead of a-la-carte (so they've charge less but presumably can expect a steady flow of cash coming in) and the emphasis on indie music labels. So the biggest complaint for many potential consumers (and the reason they left after their initial 30 free tracks) was the lack of mainstream/top 40/major label music. But eMusic filled a nice niche for those of us who were more interested in finding cool new music that was outside the mainstream. If you wanted mainstream stuff, you could always go to iTunes, Amazon, Walmart, Rhapsody, Napster, etc etc. But eMusic was fantastic for indie stuff. At the price point they were charging (especially for my "grandfathered" subscription), you could try stuff out even if you'd never heard of it, and even if you did end up with a fair bit of chaff, there was still plenty of wheat in there to make it a good deal. And it exposed indie artists to a much wider audience (I know I ended up buying physical CDs for a bunch of stuff I picked up on eMusic to support the artists I really enjoyed).That was all until recently when they announced that they'd signed a deal to get access to some of Sony's back-catalog (i.e., stuff that's at least a couple years old), were eliminating all grandfathered subscriptions, and putting in a significant price hike for all. I believe just prior to this, you could get 50 tracks a month for $16. The new plan they plan on switching me over to as soon as my current annual subscription runs out is 35 tracks a month for $16. I can accept that they may need to cut back on plans like mine due to the incredibly low price per track, but such a drastic change makes me want to kick them to the curb as soon as my contract's up and take my business elsewhere. Really seems like they should give existing subscribers the option to keep their existing plan (or at least the previous incarnation, before the recent hike) and restrict us to the indie labels. I really couldn't give a rat's ass about the major label stuff. As I said, if I wanted it, I'd go elsewhere. I came to eMusic for what made them different. But now that their wanting to be like everyone else. Guess I'll need to find some place new to get my indie music fix. :( CEO's blog post and the ~1500 mostly negative posts about this [...]

]]> By: Matt http://17dots.com/2009/05/31/more-of-the-good-stuff/comment-page-39/#comment-134032 Matt Mon, 31 May 2010 02:07:41 +0000 http://17dots.com/?p=1691#comment-134032 I canceled too when my subscription ran out last November (2009). I just felt that I (we) had been badly treated. Promises to us were broken without even the courtesy of a direct email explaining the situation honestly. I understand why eMusic did it, I understand the necessities of business, but it was the way they did it that was just wrong. Incidently, I moved to Lala, which has now been bought and shut down by Apple. Now I'm on Amie Street. And I use Pandora a lot, and happily pay their optional annual fee. I don't mind paying for music (though there is clearly a difference between fair pricing and gouging, and I think the RIAA has an unusual talent for shooting themselves in the foot repeatedly), but I don't like being mistreated. I canceled too when my subscription ran out last November (2009). I just felt that I (we) had been badly treated. Promises to us were broken without even the courtesy of a direct email explaining the situation honestly.

I understand why eMusic did it, I understand the necessities of business, but it was the way they did it that was just wrong.

Incidently, I moved to Lala, which has now been bought and shut down by Apple. Now I’m on Amie Street. And I use Pandora a lot, and happily pay their optional annual fee. I don’t mind paying for music (though there is clearly a difference between fair pricing and gouging, and I think the RIAA has an unusual talent for shooting themselves in the foot repeatedly), but I don’t like being mistreated.

]]> By: Ethan F http://17dots.com/2009/05/31/more-of-the-good-stuff/comment-page-39/#comment-133511 Ethan F Thu, 20 May 2010 21:52:41 +0000 http://17dots.com/?p=1691#comment-133511 Jason: I didn't renew. Gotta wonder how if their user-base expanded or shrunk. Jason: I didn’t renew.

Gotta wonder how if their user-base expanded or shrunk.

]]> By: Jason http://17dots.com/2009/05/31/more-of-the-good-stuff/comment-page-39/#comment-133040 Jason Tue, 11 May 2010 14:58:22 +0000 http://17dots.com/?p=1691#comment-133040 So how many of us actually followed through with cancellation? My last payment to eMusic was July 2009 and have been doing fine without them. I'm currently using a streaming service to discover music, then purchasing the music either digitally through the same streaming service or at my local record store. I won't promote the streaming service I use in this comment, but I will say that my primary music player is a Zune 30. :-) So how many of us actually followed through with cancellation? My last payment to eMusic was July 2009 and have been doing fine without them. I’m currently using a streaming service to discover music, then purchasing the music either digitally through the same streaming service or at my local record store.

I won’t promote the streaming service I use in this comment, but I will say that my primary music player is a Zune 30.
:-)

]]> By: Ethan F http://17dots.com/2009/05/31/more-of-the-good-stuff/comment-page-38/#comment-132542 Ethan F Sun, 25 Apr 2010 07:31:53 +0000 http://17dots.com/?p=1691#comment-132542 Sigh. I've been a long subscriber and huge advocate of eMusic for years. Over the years the plans have changed and I've seen my dollars get less and less music. This huge price bump and new focus on getting a mainstream catalog continues this trend and has just pushed me over the edge. Honestly, if I wanted all this Sony music I wouldn't be here. And it's just ridiculous how much you've traded to get their artists on your site. eMusic used to be a great deal, focused on finding new bands and fostering community. Now it just seems you are trying to become iTunes. Good luck with that, I'll be canceling my account come May 2nd. I'll attempt to find a real alternative elsewhere. Best of luck with your new clients, for it seems you are getting rid of a good deal of your old guard. Sigh.

I’ve been a long subscriber and huge advocate of eMusic for years. Over the years the plans have changed and I’ve seen my dollars get less and less music. This huge price bump and new focus on getting a mainstream catalog continues this trend and has just pushed me over the edge. Honestly, if I wanted all this Sony music I wouldn’t be here. And it’s just ridiculous how much you’ve traded to get their artists on your site.

eMusic used to be a great deal, focused on finding new bands and fostering community.

Now it just seems you are trying to become iTunes. Good luck with that, I’ll be canceling my account come May 2nd. I’ll attempt to find a real alternative elsewhere.

Best of luck with your new clients, for it seems you are getting rid of a good deal of your old guard.

]]> By: martin http://17dots.com/2009/05/31/more-of-the-good-stuff/comment-page-38/#comment-130985 martin Tue, 09 Feb 2010 07:03:57 +0000 http://17dots.com/?p=1691#comment-130985 Not sure if this is the correct place to post but I am wondering if anybody is still getting any response from eMusic's Customer Services? I last heard from them on 27 January advising that they would change me from the plan that I was put on after a suspension and had already told them that I didn't want to be on, to the correct one. Since then nothing - and I'm still on the wrong plan. If they hadn't already charged my credit card I would have already cancelled altogether. Not sure if this is the correct place to post but I am wondering if anybody is still getting any response from eMusic’s Customer Services?

I last heard from them on 27 January advising that they would change me from the plan that I was put on after a suspension and had already told them that I didn’t want to be on, to the correct one.

Since then nothing – and I’m still on the wrong plan.

If they hadn’t already charged my credit card I would have already cancelled altogether.

]]> By: ridwanzero http://17dots.com/2009/05/31/more-of-the-good-stuff/comment-page-38/#comment-130484 ridwanzero Tue, 12 Jan 2010 14:32:16 +0000 http://17dots.com/?p=1691#comment-130484 After last post on marketing without search engines, I decided to follow up with a strategy you can use to get quality free traffic. One of the easiest ways to get visitors to your web site is to spend money. Nothing is more effortless then paying for traffic. But if you can’t afford it or don’t want to pay, there’s an equally simple but free way to get traffic: ad swaps. www.onlineuniversalwork.com After last post on marketing without search engines, I decided to follow up with a strategy you can use to get quality free traffic. One of the easiest ways to get visitors to your web site is to spend money. Nothing is more effortless then paying for traffic. But if you can’t afford it or don’t want to pay, there’s an equally simple but free way to get traffic: ad swaps.

http://www.onlineuniversalwork.com

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