Version 1.3

Comparing MusicSelect Providers

There are many differences between Napster and eMusic.  Understand these differences before you choose one provider over the other. 

eMusic is a membership music store.  Your MusicSelect membership entitles you to 20 downloads for each quarter of membership, once you use all of your downloads, you are done shopping in the store.  If you'd like to continue shopping in the eMusic store, you can sign up for your own account (see below). 

Napster is both a membership service and a pay-per-song store.  The membership gives you unlimited access to Napster's library of 5 million songs without having to buy any songs indivually.  You can "stream" songs from Napster's servers or download them to your computer and ply them as often as you'd like.  When your membership expires, the music stops playing.  However, you can buy a song to keep it forever, burn it to a CD, or move it to a portable music player. 

Both Napster and eMusic run on Windows, MacOS, and Linux.  Songs purchased from eMusic will work on any MP3 player; songs purchased from Napster will only work on portable music players compatible with Microsoft Plays For Sure1 -- that includes almost all players except the iPod and Zune family.

Here are the gory details:

  Napster eMusic
OVERVIEW
Library 5 million tracks; 3 million tracks
Format Streams: 128 Kbps WMA
Downloads: 192 Kbps WMA
192 Kbps MP3
Compatability Windows, MacOS, Linux Windows, MacOS, Linux
STREAMING & TETHERED DOWNLOADS
Playable During your membership

Not applicable

Use with
MP3 players
If you buy the track (see below)
Burn to CD If you buy the track (see below)
BUYING
Price

$0.99 / song, volume discounts:
$13.95 for 15 songs (93¢ / song)
$21.95 for 25 songs (88¢ / song)
$39.95 for 50 songs (80¢ / song)

Plans beyond MusicSelect: 
Basic: $9.99 per month for 30 downloads - only 33¢ / song
Plus: $14.99 per month/50 downloads - only 30¢ / song
Premium: $19.99 per month/75 downloads - 27¢ / song
Playable On 3 computers forever Forever
Use with
MP3 players
Over 100 compatible players1,
not compatible with iPod or Zune
Yes
Burn to CD Yes Yes

      Notes:
        1. Get the latest list of devices compatible with Napster.