Riffage.com, an online music service with a selection of authorized
digital music for purchase by download, has closed its virtual doors.
The site,
which launched in July 1999, touted itself as a carrier of music that
traditional music stores do not offer, such as new indie and niche artists.
Visitors to the site are now greeted by the following statement:
“For the past 18 months, Riffage has pioneered efforts to unite fans
and musicians — building a loyal following for emerging artists and using
the power of the Internet to expose new music. Pioneers enjoy the thrills of
new frontiers, but must also deal with the risks inherent in uncharted
territories.
“Having reached out to a million fans and tens of thousands of bands, we
cannot continue to service these fine communities in the current economic
marketplace. As of December 8th, Riffage will cease operations.
We would like to thank the artists, fans, writers, labels, and partners
who helped us over the last 18 months.
The Riffage Team
The statement also urges visitors to check out a former competititor,
besonic.com, as well as provides data regarding how yet-to-be-delivered
orders are being handled.