eMusic has announced it will cut back on the generous subscription packages it offers. The change will see the basic package dropping to 30 songs per month from 40, the plus package dropping to 65 to 50 songs per month and the premium package will drop from 90 songs per month to 75.

An eMusic spokesperson told The Register, "We have a much bigger catalog than we had when we relaunched in 2003 - 1.7m songs as opposed to 250,000 - and the web site is much more sophisticated too."

It's tough to say how this will effect the momentum eMusic has mustered. In honesty, what they offered before was a fantastic deal, and what they're offering now is still a fantastic deal, albeit a little less fantastic. If I have a criticism of the move it would be this; Many people I talk to about eMusic love it particularly because they use their "extra" subscription songs each month to explore new artists. Reducing the discretionary budget of eMusic users in this manner could quell some of that pioneer spirit among the eMusic user base.

[via The Register]