America Online says its MusicNet@AOL subscription service has more than 250,000 subscribers. The service claimed about 179,000 subscribers last October.

Meanwhile, MusicNet@AOL has launched an à la carte purchase feature as part of its subscription offering. Up to now, MusicNet@AOL has not offered permanent downloads.

Tracks can be purchased for 99 cents each, but are available only to MusicNet users who pay $8.95 per month for the basic music-on-demand subscription package.

AOL users looking to purchase downloads without a subscription requirement can link to Apple Computer's iTunes Music Store.