Originally published December 8 2005
AOL launches Music Now song downloading service
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
One million songs are available through AOL's new service from four major music labels, as well as several independent labels. Each track is 99 cents, or subscription will be available for $9.95 per month for unlimited use.
America Online Inc. (AOL) has acquired MusicNow LLC, a digital music subscription company, from Richmond, Virginia-based Circuit City Stores Inc.
AOL Music Now will operate as a separate unit of AOL Premium Services LLC, AOL's unit in the Digital Services business.
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The new online service will include MusicNow's complete digital music collection of over one million songs from the four major music labels - EMI, Sony/BMG, Universal Music Group and the Warner Music Group.
MusicNow will continue to be based in Chicago, Illinois, with its 40 employees, including President Gary Cohen, reporting to Amit Shafrir, President, AOL Premium Services LLC and Ed Fish, Senior Vice President and General Manager, AOL Premium and Subscription Services.
"Combined with leading programming on AOL Music, the easy-to-use features for music browsing, discovering, sharing and purchasing of MusicNow provides a new level of customization and personalization of online music.
AOL Music Now will provide visitors with the option to browse and purchase music on a per track basis ($.99 a track), or subscription basis from any Internet-connected PC, without downloading separate media player software.
The AOL Music Now service will also offer personalization features, such as daily custom playlists and community features, such as the ability to view and share music profiles with other visitors.
"The acquisition of MusicNow, combined with the launch of the new AOL Music Now service, is yet another powerful milestone in a year of notable milestones and pioneering accomplishments by the AOL Music brand," said Bill Wilson, Senior Vice President of Programming for AOL.
AOL said that during the current AOL Music Now preview period, existing subscribers to both the MusicNow and the MusicNet@AOL services would be notified via email that they would be upgraded to the new AOL Music Now service in the coming months.
Subscribers to each of these services will maintain their current, respective price plans under AOL Music Now.
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