Play.com has launched a new service for music downloads that gives people access to DRM-free songs with support from EMI and a bunch of independent labels.
The PlayDigital service gives users access to music downloads of separate tracks and full albums. The music downloads come without any limitations or restrictions, meaning that you will be free to do with them as you please. PlayDigital is similar to Amazon’s music-download service.
Tracks from Play.com will be available for download from 65 pence, or £4.95 for an album. This makes the music downloads cheaper than iTunes! Deals with other record labels are expected to be struck in the next few months.
Although the music industry initially made tracks DRM-free to protect against filesharing, the idea appears to have been scrapped in favor of making more money. If that doesn’t say something about the music industry then we don’t know what does. Whatever. Another music-download service is always welcome here.
It’s not just Radiohead and indie bands who are embracing digital music — classical music artists are also keen to get involved with the trend of music downloads. Violinist Tasmin Little has released her album Naked Violin as a free download.
Little has said that she didn’t think many people would be tempted to buy the album as it was, but the response to offering free MP3 downloads of the LP has been “phenomenal” and could play a pivotal role in her career.
Little has given away thousands of free MP3 downloads and her website now receives 30 times as much traffic as before. Although she isn’t making money from sales of the MP3 downloads, she’s made a name for herself and can reap the benefits in other ways, such as concerts and endorsements, as well as future albums.
Free MP3 downloads clearly create a major buzz when marketed right.
In the US in 2007, MP3 downloads of classical albums were up almost 50% on the previous year.
Another brave soul has decided to take on the RIAA in its filesharing battle with the world. This time it’s Rolando Armurao, who is accused of sharing some 500 songs through the free filesharing program Limewire. In this case, it’s been suggested that Media Sentry operated without a private investigator’s license in its filesharing snooping.
Media Sentry is a company paid by record labels to track down people who are up to no good with free filesharing software like Limewire. The information is passed onto the RIAA to be used in court.
Apparently, this evidence-gathering business almost always requires a license. Once again, it’s unclear how this filesharing duel will pan out. Usually in these cases, a lengthy courtroom debate is set up or else the cases are settled out of court. Rolando Armurao will be lucky to get out of this one without being fined, but only time will tell.
We can’t say why, but Spain is apparently the European leader in terms of filesharing and illegal music downloads. We would have thought that Sweden would have topped the filesharing tree, but apparently the award goes to the Spaniards.
In 2007, 1.2 billion illegal music downloads were procured through filesharing programs like Limewire and Ares. This increase in shady music downloads has gone up from just 180 million in 2003.
According to the European Interactive Advertising Assn, 58% of all Spanish Internet users downloaded music illegally in 2006 compared to a 37% average across Europe.
With these kinds of figures, it’s clear that filesharing isn’t something that is going to stopped any time soon — not unless more than half of all Internet users are going to be targeted.
After email, surfing and chatting, getting free music downloads illegally is the fourth most common Internet activity that Spaniards partake in. Good on the Spaniards.
