Cell Phones Selling Indie Music?

EMusic, the second-largest online music distributor after Apple's iTunes, is expected to announce a deal with AT&T that will allow consumers to purchase songs from independent labels directly onto their cell phones, without having to access a single PC.

While many services, like those offered by Sprint and Verizon, already allow their users to purchase tracks over the air, these songs are usually sung by such mainstream performers who already hold an exclusive contract. (Source: nytimes.com)

EMusic has promised to sell only music released on independent labels, which in these days include anything from local garage bands to the latest album released by Paul McCartney. The expected agreement with AT&T Mobile Music will make these independent albums just as easily available to the average consumer as the more conventional albums.

EMusic will release 2.7 million songs individually and the service is already said to be compatible with most cell phones made by Samsung and Nokia. (Source: nytimes.com)

EMusic allows all potential consumers to browse their library, read up on unfamiliar bands and hear snippets of songs to find the music that appeals to them.

Independent music makers have long seen the value in selling their songs using mobile phone-based music stores, claiming that this method will likely encourage impulse purchases. The downside of this service is that mobile phone-generated songs will likely cost more than they would if purchased over the Internet; $7.49 for five songs as opposed to $9.99 for thirty songs using the online system. The reason for this is to cover the cost of sending songs over a mobile network directly onto a mobile phone.

The cost also includes a second copy of the purchased song, which the user can download from the Internet as an MP3 at no additional expense. (Source: wilmingtonstar.com)

Ironically, AT&T is also the service provider for Apple's iPhone, but the over-the-air music service provided by EMusic will not function on that device. While the iPhone is compatible with Apple's iTunes service, it does not allow users to purchase songs without first signing onto a computer.