# Has Steve Jobs saved the music industry with iTunes Music Store? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 10, 2003, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-steve-jobs-saved-the-music-industry-with-itunes-music-store/174371 "2003-05-10T20:01:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-steve-jobs-saved-the-music-industry-with-itunes-music-store/174371/41 "2003-05-12T07:23:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by yosemitebabe \* > \*\*The PC people have to wait a while to get their version, no biggie. That wait won’t kill 'em. 😉 \*\* Why use a service that controls the use of something you bought when you can go to [www.emusic.com](http://www.emusic.com) and for $15 a month, you can download to your hearts content? The diversity of music is superior, as is the price. Or maybe Mac people just like flushing money down the toilet. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Nightime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Nightime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightime)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-steve-jobs-saved-the-music-industry-with-itunes-music-store/174371/42 "2003-05-12T09:24:44Z")
Mockingbird - Does emusic have all the songs in high quality format now? And is it really unlimited downloads? If so, I would definitely join. It really does look like a much better deal than iTunes. My only concern is that emusic is such a good deal, it seems like it might go out of business. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-steve-jobs-saved-the-music-industry-with-itunes-music-store/174371/43 "2003-05-12T12:27:24Z")
I could be wrong about emusic, but I THINK you have to keep your subscription active or else you can’t play the music (or is that another service?) Or there is an extra charge to burn CD’s. Brian ---
**Author:** ![Wumpus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8c91f0/32.png) [@Wumpus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wumpus)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-steve-jobs-saved-the-music-industry-with-itunes-music-store/174371/44 "2003-05-12T13:38:59Z")
Anamorphic: I stand corrected on the 6-minute thing. I should stop repeating rumors I hear in the schoolyard. 🙂 Emusic: Once you download the mp3s, they’re yours to do whatever with (except give to other people, of course.) There’s no extra charge for burning CDs. It’s unlimited downloads for a flat monthly fee–eMusic tried the pay-per-song and pay-per-album models, but ended up eliminating them eventually. You can still play the mp3s after you end your subscription. I should know, I let my subscription lapse a couple months ago because I’ve downloaded more music than I can listen to! The big drawback to eMusic, along with most of these services, is that the mp3s are only 128k. EMusic has a rather esoteric collection of music, though; you’re not going to find this week’s Top 40 there. It’s perfect if you’re what DoctorJ calls an album person and you happen to like the stuff eMusic has (like jazz). If you’re a song person who wants today’s big hits, you’re probably better with iTunes or one of the other big-label services in the works. ---
**Author:** ![Nightime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Nightime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightime)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-steve-jobs-saved-the-music-industry-with-itunes-music-store/174371/45 "2003-05-12T13:56:52Z")
Emusic actually has a lot of the music I already wanted to get. Just the Matador and spinART artists would be more than worth the price. And it says on their site they are upgrading the quality, so it may be better than 128k mp3’s now. ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-steve-jobs-saved-the-music-industry-with-itunes-music-store/174371/46 "2003-05-12T15:28:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Wumpus \* > \*\*Anamorphic: I stand corrected on the 6-minute thing. I should stop repeating rumors I hear in the schoolyard. 🙂 > > Emusic: Once you download the mp3s, they’re yours to do whatever with (except give to other people, of course.) There’s no extra charge for burning CDs. It’s unlimited downloads for a flat monthly fee–eMusic tried the pay-per-song and pay-per-album models, but ended up eliminating them eventually. > > You can still play the mp3s after you end your subscription. I should know, I let my subscription lapse a couple months ago because I’ve downloaded more music than I can listen to! > > The big drawback to eMusic, along with most of these services, is that the mp3s are only 128k. > > EMusic has a rather esoteric collection of music, though; you’re not going to find this week’s Top 40 there. It’s perfect if you’re what DoctorJ calls an album person and you happen to like the stuff eMusic has (like jazz). If you’re a song person who wants today’s big hits, you’re probably better with iTunes or one of the other big-label services in the works. \*\* emusic now is encoding at higher bitrates as well as variable bit rates. And they do have a LOT of current music. And yes, they have some amazing esoteric music. I went there first because they have _Last Of The Red Hot Mommas_ by Sophie Tucker. They have a huge catalog of George Carlin(20 albums). Lots and lots of comedy. And yes… much jazz. Which I have been downloading. They also have albums that have been out of print. The first Odgen Ensl album… Early comedy records with Moms Mabley and Redd Foxx… Plus, I have found newer albums by Electronic(Johnny Marr from the Smiths and Bernard Sumner from New Order). And many others. ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-steve-jobs-saved-the-music-industry-with-itunes-music-store/174371/47 "2003-05-12T15:36:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Nightime \* > \*\*Mockingbird - Does emusic have all the songs in high quality format now? And is it really unlimited downloads? If so, I would definitely join. > > It really does look like a much better deal than iTunes. My only concern is that emusic is such a good deal, it seems like it might go out of business. \*\* They are doing most new albums in 160 or 192 it looks like. A few albums are only available as 128, but… they are a minority and I’ve downloaded over 100 albums. 😃 Yes, it is really unlimited. ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-steve-jobs-saved-the-music-industry-with-itunes-music-store/174371/48 "2003-05-12T15:38:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by N9IWP \* > \*\*I could be wrong about emusic, but I THINK you have to keep your subscription active or else you can’t play the music (or is that another service?) > > Or there is an extra charge to burn CD’s. > > Brian \*\* Once the music is downloaded, it is yours to do with as you please. Move it from PC to PC. Burn it to CDs. You bought it, it is yours. ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-steve-jobs-saved-the-music-industry-with-itunes-music-store/174371/49 "2003-05-13T02:59:14Z")
So far, the only gripe I have against the iTMS is that it lacks the ubiquitous “shopping cart” system of purchasing. I’d really like to be able to see a list of what I’ve selected to buy before I go through the checkout process. As it is now, I have to click “Buy” for each track, and each is downloaded (and paid for) one at a time. Not only does this cause me to click more than I’d like to, it also makes me wonder what the charge is going to look like on my bill. I’d hate to see this: ```auto Apple iTunes Music Store: Song 1 $0.99 Apple iTunes Music Store: Song 2 $0.99 Apple iTunes Music Store: Song 3 $0.99 Apple iTunes Music Store: Song 4 $0.99 ... ``` I’d much rather see it as one lump sum charge. Other than that, I’m happy. The selection’s pretty good (though if you ask me, it could use some Queen and anime soundtracks). I’ve listened to a few of the songs I’ve DLed so far, and they sound great. ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-steve-jobs-saved-the-music-industry-with-itunes-music-store/174371/50 "2003-05-13T03:12:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mockingbird \* > Why use a service that controls the use of something you bought when you can go to [www.emusic.com](http://www.emusic.com) and for $15 a month, you can download to your hearts content? > > The diversity of music is superior, as is the price. > > Or maybe Mac people just like flushing money down the toilet. > > 😃 I checked out [emusic.com](http://emusic.com). It had **nothing** by two of my favorite composers, Jean Sibelius and Jerry Goldsmith. Well, I take that back. It had one thing by Goldsmith–woo hoo. So basically, emusic is useless to me. Using it would be like flushing money down the toilet, since it has a piss-poor selection (to me, anyway). On the other hand, Apple’s Music store has a _lot_ of Sibelius (not everything, but a lot) and a few decent tracks by Goldsmith. (They need to get more Goldsmith, to be sure.) ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-steve-jobs-saved-the-music-industry-with-itunes-music-store/174371/51 "2003-05-13T03:23:26Z")
It has three things by Jerry Goldsmith. They have a large diverse catalog and don’t put ridiculous restrictions on what you can do with something you bought. So… imusic… woo hoo. ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-steve-jobs-saved-the-music-industry-with-itunes-music-store/174371/52 "2003-05-13T03:51:23Z")
Three things–oh, I stand corrected. Three things that I don’t really want, that most Goldsmith fans won’t really want–three things that are not conducted by him. The Apple Music Store still needs to get more stuff by him, and they have a better selection, and a better _quality_ selection. And in my opinion, there’s just no damned excuse to have _no_ Jean Sibelius. I mean, **NO** Jean Sibelius. What? Not even _Finlandia_? That’s piss-poor. I don’t care how dandy the other features of [emusic.com](http://emusic.com) are, but if they don’t have what _I_ want, they are piss-poor. Also, I’ve spent $12 so far at the Apple store. I only pay for what I want. I don’t think I’d spend $15 worth of music on [emusic.com](http://emusic.com), even _if_ they didn’t have a piss-poor selection (to me–to _me_ it’s a piss-poor selection). ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-steve-jobs-saved-the-music-industry-with-itunes-music-store/174371/53 "2003-05-13T03:55:46Z")
And I just [checked--emusic.com](http://checked--emusic.com) has only _one_ album by Vaughan-Williams, and only a few things by Copland. That’s just pure _sad_. ---
**Author:** ![Anamorphic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anamorphic/32/3057_2.png) [@Anamorphic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anamorphic)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-steve-jobs-saved-the-music-industry-with-itunes-music-store/174371/54 "2003-05-13T04:14:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AudreyK \* > **So far, the only gripe I have against the iTMS is that it lacks the ubiquitous “shopping cart” system of purchasing. I’d really like to be able to see a list of what I’ve selected to buy before I go through the checkout process.** Gripe solved: open up the preferences pane, click on Store, and select the ‘Buy Using Shopping Cart’ button. “Buy Song” buttons now change to “Add Song”, and a Shopping Cart menu is added to the list on the left. iTunes is now perfect for you. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Nightime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Nightime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightime)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-steve-jobs-saved-the-music-industry-with-itunes-music-store/174371/55 "2003-05-13T06:53:15Z")
Wow, Yosemitebabe… relax. The Apple music store may well be better for you, but emusic is an incredibly good deal. I didn’t even look very long, but I already saw at least 30 albums that I had been wishing I had already. And I can get ALL 30 of those albums for $15. Plus I can download music just to see if I like it. These things aren’t possible at the Apple store. ---
**Author:** ![Wumpus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8c91f0/32.png) [@Wumpus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wumpus)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-steve-jobs-saved-the-music-industry-with-itunes-music-store/174371/56 "2003-05-13T13:06:16Z")
Actually, eMusic has four things by Sibelius; Yosemitebabe probably missed them because the global site search doesn’t work so well for classical stuff (you have to use the “search by last name” sidebar on the Classical page.) One thing to keep in mind about eMusic is that it’s almost all stuff from smaller, independent labels. If you happen to like what those particular labels put out, you’ll be in heaven. If not, you’ll be wondering, “What’s the point?” ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-steve-jobs-saved-the-music-industry-with-itunes-music-store/174371/57 "2003-05-15T02:59:03Z")
Sweet! Thanks, **Anamorphic**. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![yola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/48db29/32.png) [@yola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yola)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-steve-jobs-saved-the-music-industry-with-itunes-music-store/174371/58 "2003-05-15T06:24:23Z")
I can’t wait til iTunes are available to me. I’ll gladly pay for music. At home on your personal computer listen to song and if you like it download for 25cts. Getting high quality new or old music at your fingertips is worth the time, money and effort. There was always bootleg music recordings. First Japanese radio with a cassette player/recorder you could “download free music”. I remember in the ice age in old Seattle when if a live concert was sold out you could hear it live on radio. Believe me the tape was rolling. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-steve-jobs-saved-the-music-industry-with-itunes-music-store/174371/59 "2003-05-15T13:00:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by yola \* > I can’t wait til iTunes are available to me. I’ll gladly pay for music. At home on your personal computer listen to song and if you like it download for 25cts. But the current itunes price is not 25 cents, but one U.S. dollar per song. And I don’t think you can listen to [the whole] song without paying for it first. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-steve-jobs-saved-the-music-industry-with-itunes-music-store/174371/60 "2003-05-23T23:25:41Z")
I just started playing with it today. You can listen to 30 seconds of full quality music as a sample. Question: that $.99, does tax get added to that? Every full album I looked at was $9.99. Much cheaper than retail. If I only buy one song, I assume my credit card is being charged $.99. The credit card companies must love that. Who’s picking up the service charge? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-steve-jobs-saved-the-music-industry-with-itunes-music-store/174371.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-steve-jobs-saved-the-music-industry-with-itunes-music-store/174371.md?page=4)