Subscription-based downloader eMusic announced on Tuesday that, as of today, November 18, albums released by independent record companies Merge and Domino, as well as the family of labels under Beggars Group, will no longer be available from the service. This announcement affects the way people will be able to acquire the work of some of the most popular bands in indie rock, including Arcade Fire, Superchunk, Spoon, Animal Collective, Vampire Weekend, Titus Andronicus, Deerhunter, and The National.

After stating that they were preparing for a 250,000-song addition to their catalog – by way of Universal Music Group – eMusic cited basic difficulty in “forging deals” with the indie labels, while expressing hope that they would eventually return.

Beggars Group, which represents 4AD, Matador, Rough Trade, and XL, laid out their side of the story in a statement issued yesterday: “As those of you who buy our music from eMusic will know by now, our music is now no longer be available from that site. We wish this hadn’t happened, but as eMusic has brought major labels on board, they have changed the terms on which they deal with labels in certain ways, some of which we have found impossible to accept, in our own interests, those of our artists, and ultimately those of their fans. We have loved eMusic, and the support it has given to our music, but it was the dedicated home for independent music and is, in our view, not that any more. You will continue to find our music on many other great sites and stores, we encourage you to visit them, or ask us where.”

So it doesn’t sound like anyone should be holding their breath for Beggars’ return to eMusic, especially as eMusic adjusts their business in order to work with majors. Merge retained a similar sentiment, stating that the service “has created a situation where it would be harmful to the interests of Merge and our artists to continue our partnership at this time."