party shout

major labels to offer free streaming music on the web

Just a few years ago, a Web site offering virtually every notable song ever recorded for free listening would have had music business executives speed-dialing their lawyers.

In the next two weeks, a battered music industry, facing slumping CD sales and a bleak future, will help to introduce just such a service, called MySpace Music.

The new site is the product of a joint venture among MySpace, the social network owned by the News Corporation, and the major music companies — the Warner Music Group; Sony BMG, a joint venture of Sony and Bertelsmann; and the Universal Music Group, a subsidiary of Vivendi. The venture plans to make money from selling advertising on the site and from selling digital downloads of music through a partnership with Amazon.com.

what do you guys think?

onny posted 3 months ago

I really really like the idea, but i wish it weren't through MySpace. I know MySpace has had a lot of impact on musicians and getting stuff out there but i hate MySpace. HATE!

I just hope this new site won't look like the current MySpace.

agata posted 3 months ago

hahaha, the end is in sight! enjoy making money while you can suckas!

JonBro posted 3 months ago

HA! Sounds a bit like hulu.com for record labels. I wonder if revenue from the advertisements gets back to artists?

eli.pousson posted 3 months ago

#1: "a music business based on advertising"

More advertising creep = teh suck

#2: "But the music industry’s victory was pyrrhic."

Correct use of the word pyrrhic? It sounds more like they fought an ultimately losing battle rather than sustained great losses in order to achieve a victory.

#3: Record Industry Execs are still f-ing up. Its like they're trying to reduce their market as much as possible. These dudes are so concerned with downloading that they can't see that their main problem is a distribution issue. People are downloading illegally, because most of the time: it's easier than actually paying for the music, and you get DRM-free files. They should focus their efforts on making a music site that is as fast and easy to use as possible, and allows any artist to set up to sell their music quickly and easily. Basically an itunes music store without DRM. And maybe a bit cheaper. I think $10 per album. Tops. Focusing on advertising is going to take away from what they need to focus on.

Thermos posted 3 months ago

iTunes does sell without drm, as does amazon and 7 digital. However the amount of time for the approval process is kinda long. Takes 6-8 weeks before it gets in the store. Also the initial fee and the commissions for hosting it on the store are kinda fucked up for what you get in return (credit card processing, hosting). There are other markets as well, if you want more control over your stuff.

The game is already over, the music industry execs just have not realized it yet. KEEP PEDDLING YR CRAP IDIOTS!

JonBro posted 3 months ago

oh, I should point out that I used tunecore to put my album on itunes, amazon, and emusic.

JonBro posted 3 months ago

ohhotdamn. I didn't know that itunes finally went drm free. I'm gonna go buy some crap.

Thermos posted 3 months ago

well, it is not all drm free, but it is up to the label (or whatever, artist) to decide.

JonBro posted 3 months ago

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