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AOL to sell music online
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August 16, 1999: 9:51 a.m. ET
America Online in deal with EMusic to sell MP3s through its services
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NEW YORK (CNNfn) - America Online Inc. will begin selling downloadable MP3 music through its Net services, the Dulles, Va.-based firm said Monday.
AOL is partnering with Emusic.com, a company offering music in the popular MP3 format, which gives users almost CD quality music for download.
AOL already has ventured into the online music segment by purchasing Spinner, a streaming music company, and Nullsoft, maker of Winamp, a popular MP3 music player.
EMusic has about 20,000 songs in its collection that are available for purchase. Customers will be able to buy individual tracks for 99 cents or purchase an entire album for $8.99.
AOL (AOL) will offer the EMusic songs over its Spinner, Winamp and ICQ services. In return, EMusic will pay AOL a fixed marketing fee and give AOL a cut of the sales as well.
The market for online music is enticing for many Net companies. According to Media Metrix, the number of U.S. home users downloading music increased 400 percent last year, with about 4 million using digital music in June.
Other companies also have jumped into the fray. Last week, electronics maker Sony said its music unit will begin selling songs by Japanese artists online.
America Online shares rose 4-1/8 to 96-7/8 in Friday trading. 
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