Rolling Stones Roll Into eMusic; Abkco Deal Quietly Emerges

The Rolling Stones have now landed on eMusic, a quiet deal catching only modest attention Thursday. eMusic subscribers now have access to the entire Rolling Stones catalog spanning 1964-1970, available as MP3s. That includes famous albums Let It Bleed, Beggars Banquet, and Aftermath, as well as indelible classics like "Paint It, Black," "Satisfaction," "Jumpin' Jack Flash," and a laundry list of others. (Digital Music News)

iTunes Competitors: We're Number 2! No, We're Number 2! (AMZN, AAPL)

Amazon's MP3 store, launched last fall, is now number two behind iTunes, says USA Today. No way, says eMusic CEO David Pakman: We're in second place -- just like we've always been! There's no way to actually referee the dispute, because USA Today isn't playing fair: It doesn't actually provide any sales or market share numbers for Amazon. Instead, Pakman says on his blog, reporter Jefferson Graham called the four major labels and asked them who their second biggest digital retailer was, and they said Amazon. (Silicon Alley Insider, USA Today)

eMusic: Apple's bundled-music device would be anticompetitive

Apple is in for a fierce legal fight should it ever release a device that offers all-you-can-eat music, according to David Pakman, CEO of rival digital music service eMusic. "It smells like classic Sherman Antitrust Act to me," Pakman said. "I only know what I've read but the plan sounds very similar to the tying practices Microsoft used with Windows/Explorer. And Microsoft is still paying the penalties for that one." (News.com)

eMusic: Apple's bundled-music device would be anticompetitive

Apple is in for a fierce legal fight should it ever release a device that offers all-you-can-eat music, according to David Pakman, CEO of rival digital music service eMusic. "It smells like classic Sherman Antitrust Act to me," Pakman said. "I only know what I've read but the plan sounds very similar to the tying practices Microsoft used with Windows/Explorer. And Microsoft is still paying the penalties for that one." (News.com)

eMusic Adds Labels

eMusic has announced that its catalog has surpassed 3.5 million tracks with the addition of 43 new record labels and digital aggregators. The eMusic roster now includes German electronic label Kompakt (Michael Mayer, Superpitcher), indie rockers Constellation Records (Do Make Say Think, Silver Mt Zion), and pop/rock/electronic imprint IAMSOUND Records (Cut Off Your Hands) among others. (Hypebot)

Rental Redefined: eMusic Strikes Avis Partnership

Rent a car, get some independent MP3s.  That is a proposition being presented by eMusic and Avis, an unusual pairing.  According to information shared Tuesday, Avis renters will be given access to a handful of free downloads supplied by eMusic.  Additionally, eMusic will offer a collection of playlists geared towards seasons, destinations, and other pertinent themes. (DigitaMusicNews)

eMusic Launches A&R Program

eMusic, the world's largest retailer of independent music -- and the world's second-largest digital music service after iTunes -- announced today the creation of eMusic Selects, a highly curated boutique music space launching February 12 on eMusic that will showcase unsigned and underexposed new artists. (PR)

eMusic Bolsters Classical, Jazz Roster

Digital entertainment retailer eMusic has bolstered its classical/jazz roster with a number of label signings including UK-based Chandos Records, Telarc and Harmonia Mundi. (Billboard)

A brave new world: the music biz at the dawn of 2008

Given the years of declining revenues at the major labels and the constant stream of stories in the mainstream press about music's decline, you'd be forgiven for thinking that the music industry's pallbearers are already lined up and waiting in the hallway. But music isn't on its deathbed yet; in fact, people are listening to more artists than ever before, on more white earbuds than ever before, in more places than ever before. They're just not paying as much. Don't put all the blame on file-swapping. Digital music sales soared in 2007 and eMusic, the number two music download service in the US behind iTunes, added 50,000 new paying customers in the last six months. (Ars Technica)