If you can’t beat them, join them. That is the approach the music industry wants to use from today onward to combat illegal file sharing. They will have their own network where users can download or listen to more than 25 million songs for free.
The music industry fought against illegal music sharing for a number of years; still they have many cases pending against illegal downloaders. But now the industry wants to
share the music themselves (free of charge) with people via
Qtrax.com, available later today.
Qtrax, with the backing of Universal Music, Warner Music and EMI, will share more than 25 million songs. Music fans will be able to listen to ad-supported content throughout the website, or download music for free via a special jukebox player.
The service will use a peer-to-peer network, to distribute hit songs, rarities and live tracks from the world’s leading artists.
The one downfall at this point: These songs will not be compatible with an iPod at this time. This may be a minor setback, as iPods dominate the digital player market. That said, we live in the digital age and I'm sure people will find a way to convert whatever format Qtrax will provide so it
does play on their iPod.
Qtrax songs will have Digital Rights Management software (DRM) that will monitor how many times a song was played or downloaded. Based on this data, the song artists, record companies and publishers will be paid accordingly, and get a share of the advertising revenues generated on the site.
As the Times Online reports:
"The Qtrax team, which spent five years working on the system, promised a “game-changing” intervention in the declining recorded music market when the service was presented at the Midem music industry convention in Cannes."
Customers have to download the Qtrax software to their PC and are permitted to own songs permanently on their system. People will be encouraged to dock their player so Qtrax can observe their listening patterns to pay artists as well as collect info for marketing purposes.
The player is not available for download yet, but Qtrax said it will be available starting at midnight
on their website here.
James Blunt, the popular singer, is not sure how this will help the artists. He told the Times Online:
"I’m amazed that we now accept that people steal music…I was taught not to steal sweets from a sweet shop. But I want to learn how this service works, given the condition the music industry is in.”
I personally agree with him; artists also have to make a living like anybody else, and so giving away songs free will not solve everything.
Qtrax, a subsidiary of Brilliant Technologies Corporation, has raised $30 million (£15 million) to set up the service, which is available in the U.S. and Europe beginning today. For other countries, the service may become available at a later date.
Allan Klepfisz, president of Qtrax, told the Times Online:
"Customers now expect music to be free but they do not want to use illegal sites. We believe this...has the support of the music industry and allows artists to get paid.”
Qtrax has also signed advertising deals with big companies like Ford, McDonald’s and Microsoft. The Qtrax team says advertising will be non-intrusive.
I believe Qtrax is a better approach from the music industry, as they are trying to work with customers rather than bully them with lawsuits. Will this be successful this time?
