Features

SAN FRANCISCO — EMI Recorded Music announced Wednesday it has expanded its online music distribution program to offer more CD burning options and “permanent” song downloads that can be transported to some portable devices. 

In the past, EMI’s online music selection — sold through distributors such as MusicNet, pressplay and Listen.com’s Rhapsody service — was somewhat restricted in that the music only could be listened to as long as the service subscription was active or as streamed audio content tethered to the desktop. 

EMI’s new deal means, beginning Dec. 1, that online music buyers will be able to burn songs from EMI’s catalog up to three times to blank CDs or transfer them to a limited number of portable digital music players that can play the files — though they contain digital rights management, a copy protection scheme. 

It’s still unclear how many paying customers have signed up for the services of online music sellers, and the leading companies have been reticent to divulge the number of people using Napster’s more legitimate replacements.