eMusic     Go To eMusic    In the world of music download websites, most sites start to look the same once you've seen a few. There are, of course, the exceptions. When Star Reviews decided to take a look at online music downloads and the sites that offered them, we weren't just looking for the best – we were also looking for sites that offered something different - eMusic.com was one such site. Wondering what made them stand out? Here's the rundown... What's New? 25 Free Downloads With a Paid Subscription eMusic Discovery Toolbar Offers Free Songs Daily Audiobooks Available Star Reviews' Favorite Feature: We really like the fact that even though eMusic is a subscription-based service, you get to keep all of the songs you download. As soon as you download the songs, they're yours to keep, even if you cancel your subscription in the future. Most subscription services only allow you to access your downloaded songs for as long as you're a paying member. The eMusic Experience: When we visited the eMusic website the first thing we noticed was the "25 free downloads with paid subscription" deal. It really caught our attention because music download websites that offer paid subscriptions usually involve unlimited downloads for the duration of your membership. That's when we started digging deeper into how eMusic really worked. Turns out eMusic.com really is different from the other music download websites. For one low monthly subscription fee you get to download a set number of songs. To sign up for eMusic you simply complete a 4-step process that involves providing your account info, selecting a plan, providing your payment information and downloading the eMusic software. The download and install process takes less than five minutes and then you're ready to go. The only thing we didn't like about the eMusic site is the fact that you have to begin the registration process to even see what subscription plans are available. We'd really rather see up-front pricing and more in-depth information available on the front pages of the website. eMusic Features: Keep the songs you download, even after you cancel your subscription. 25 free songs with paid subscription. 3.5 million songs to choose from. eMusic toolbar. Works with any MP3 player. Media Players Supported: All media players that support MP3 format. eMusic Pricing: eMusic Basic offers 30 music downloads for $9.99 per month. eMusic Plus offers 50 music downloads for $14.99 per month. eMusic Premium offers 75 music downloads for $19.99 per month. eMusic Customer Service: eMusic offers customer service via an extensive FAQ and online email support. While the FAQ did answer most of the questions one would run into when using the service, email support was a bit slow. We didn't get a response to our question until two business days after we had asked it. We think the service could benefit from faster response times and perhaps even a live phone or chat support option. Upside: Keep the music you download, compatible with all MP3 media players, millions of songs to choose from. Downside: Customer service needs improvement. Go To eMusic                   Customer Ratings                   Email This Review