eMusic Hits 100,000 Subscribers

"eMusic has recently crossed the 100,000 subscriber level, part of an ongoing increase for the indie download store…(and) reported a level of two million monthly downloads," according to Digital Music News. "That places the service in a number two spot behind the iTunes Music Store, based on available data from competing stores. But eMusic is clearly tapping a different market niche than Apple, with independent content the name of the game. "eMusic has proven that there is a meaningful market segment of customers seeking music beyond the commercial mainstream…"

"…While the paid download space is continually seeing new entrants, eMusic has taken several steps to stay both competitive and targeted. First, the store offers all downloads in the open MP3 format, allowing not only iPod compatibility but also complete usage flexibility. That is miles away from major label thinking, though right at home with independent artists who face less of a piracy threat. Additionally, eMusic also focuses heavily on indie recommendation and discovery, with well-known music critics helping users to navigate the collection…"