NEW YORK (eMusic/ www.emusic.com) - eMusic, the world's No. 2 digital download service selling nearly two million tracks monthly, today announced the addition of hundreds of leading indie labels and artists to its rapidly expanding catalog.
The addition of these sought-after tracks reinforces eMusic's position as the most diverse and critically acclaimed music service in the world. Coveted tracks from artists including Bjork, The Hives, Cowboy Jack Clement, Waylon Jennings, June Carter Cash, Soul Asylum, Beck, Dead Milkmen, Modest Mouse, Mickey Hart and Kitaro; as well as the addition of the largest Frank Zappa catalog available in digital form, enhance the already expansive offerings of the largest catalog of indie music ever assembled.
In addition, eMusic announced continued sales growth in Q4, selling more 4.75 million digital downloads, making it second only to iTunes for holiday season download sales.
"If you took the ten hippest record stores across the country, added the 100 most knowledgeable music critics, and put them in the digital music world, you would have eMusic," said David Pakman, COO of eMusic and a managing director of Dimensional Associates, the private equity arm of JDS Capital that owns eMusic, The Orchard and Dimensional Music Publishing.
"Our catalog is diverse, eclectic, surprising, well-considered-and growing daily-a far cry from the top-100 fare offered by the other services. And, we've assembled an unprecedented team of music critics to help 'curate' your experience. As more and more music fans discover eMusic's universally compatible and restriction-free catalog, we expect continued growth throughout 2005 and beyond."
Among the labels recently added to eMusic:
* One Little Indian-Artists including Bjork, Sigur Ros and more.
* Nitro Records-Very strong southern California punk rock label with Vandals, Pennywise, TSOL and a host of great new bands including Rufio.
* Audio Research-Electronic/Hip-Hop label.
* Aardvark Music-UK electronic/new age label.
* System Recordings-Top level electronic and dance label with Josh Wink, Frankie Bones, DJ Rap, Richard "Humpty" Vision, Derrick Carter, and more and many great dance compilations.
* Lonesome Recordings-New Boston-based punk label.
* Collecting Records-A UK label specializing in live recordings, remakes and out-of-print titles from classic artists such as Waylon Jennings, John Mayall, George McCrae, Edwin Starr and more.
* Basement Records-New west coast punk rock label.
* Comedy Central Records-Dave Attell, Lewis Black, Mitch Hedberg, Crank Yankers and more with forthcoming titles from Dennis Leary, Todd Barry and others.
* Dualtone-One of the top independent Americana labels featuring BR549, The Silos, Cowboy Jack Clement (a legend who was at the side of Johnny Cash in '56 and Townes Van Zandt in '96), June Carter Cash and Daniel Johnston.
* Eenie Meenie-Adorable pop punk label owned by the enigmatic female ninja Reiko Kondo, they also issue fun Japanese indie pop and some electronic.
* Abflug-A new small Finnish electronic label with some glitch and rock groove ambient stuff.
* Birdman-Birdman covers a lot of eccentric rock and delta blues.
* IDEA-An aggregator that represents New York Cubano and 70's inspired funk labels like Daptone, Truth And Soul, Aire Sol, Home Style Cooking, Sound Ink, Stone Quarry and more.
* Aum Fidelity-Mostly avant jazz from this New York label. Music from percussionist Hamid Drake. Case Quarter is a sublabel devoted to gospel. Be sure to download the title track from Rev. Charlie Jackson's "God's Got It."
* Thirsty Ear-Eclectic roster from Robert Wyatt discs to DJ Spooky remixing avant jazz and the birthday party catalog (Nick Caves band).
* Sunnyside-A legendary jazz label with artists including Chris Potter, Kenny Barron, Luciana Souza, Tony Malaby and many more.
* TDC-Tracks from Dan Seals (formerly of Seals and Croft) who has achieved recent acclaim as a big country star.
* Messenger-A New York folk and Americana label with Dan Bern, Chris Whitley and others.
* Magnatune-An aggregator with multiple genres including a concentration on classical with Avie Records.
* Cadiz Digital-A UK aggregator with 20-30 labels.
* Evidence-Very strong jazz and blues catalog that leans more toward blues of late, with over 300 titles. Lots of big names including Joanne Brackeen, Jody Williams, JB Lenoir, and many classic Sun Ra titles originally issued on his own Saturn label.
* K Records-Legendary indie rock label with Beat Happening, Dub Narcotic Sound System and more.
* Cargo Industries-Small D&B label from San Francisco.
* Lovitt Records-Alt punk label with early Division Of Laura Lee and lots of current jumpers like Sleepytime Trio and more.
* IODA-Aggregator delivering 30,000 tracks from hundreds of great indie Hip-Hop, alt, jazz and electronic labels.
* Artistry Music-A jazz/R&B startup with one really hot title from Rasshan Patterson (who's been favorably compared to D'Angelo and Jill Scott) called "After Hours."
* Universal Cooler-New UK sub-bass electronic label.
* Mack Avenue-A strong jazz label from Detroit just coming into its stride with artists like Terry Gibbs and Grammy-nominated Gerald Wilson alongside young lions like Ron Blake and Sean Jones.
* Pehr Music-Small label similar to Temporary Residence and film Guerrero but a bit less rock. The artists are similar to Low, Mogwai, and the Morr Music label.
