eeeee-music

That title only really works if you read it in a Yorkshire accent.  Or maybe as Minnie Mouse.

Anyway - after thinking about it for ages I finally took the plunge and signed up for a trial account at emusic.  It gives you 25 free downloads before you have to commit to paying (or cancel), and after that you pay a monthly subscription which gives you a quota of downloads per month.  All the music is DRM free too, so if you decide to cancel any point you get to keep it.

The range isnt as mainstream as iTunes, but it concentrates on slightly more esoteric/indie-label stuff which it what I'm mainly interested in buying as downloads - if I want the new Britney album there are plenty of places I can get it online or offline for a cheap price and I can then do what I want with it (especially now that Fopp has reopened in Covent Garden!). I might not want to spend that much on something I've just heard one track of, or read about so this gives a nice way to sample new music at relatively low cost.

If I get a friend to sign up for a trial they get 50 free downloads rather than 25 so if anyone wants an invite just let me know (this isnt entirely altruistic as I get some free downloads as well for each person I invite, but hey...)

Finally - on the topic of music, I've really got into last.fm now (more than Pandora), although I wish I could get it to sync with what I've played on my ipod rather than just what I play via itunes / winamp.  If anyone wants to add me as a friend on last.fm my username is ant1973.