BlahBlahCafe - Jean-Michel Jarre forum

Universal announced today that in early 2007 will be distributing ALL their catalog of music online - and get this - ENTIRELY FREE.

First, only in USA and Canady, so hold on to your pants.

The business model - still not explained - will garantee musicians still get a cut, at least, equivalent to iTunes and all users - FREE music. It's intention is to f**k up iTunes.

Google will follow soon with something similar, according to rumours earlier this year. Let's see how it goes, altough it's similar to the business model I've idealized a couple years ago... I think - and if it is, it IS possible and, best of all, profitable - based on network economics theories of 1988, it WILL work and grow, if well done.

Kind Regards,
AMR
http://www.alvaromrocha.com

If this is true, it is just amazing.

Synthesist wrote:If this is true, it is just amazing.

It's true, I don't make an habit of writing bullcrap , I think...


They'll do it trough SpiralFrog, a start-up company, starting December 2006.

And better news, though they'll shape in future: Warner, EMI and Sony-BMG have ALREADY shown interest in joining this project in a second phase if it works business wise.

To put them assure, Levi Strauss and Benetton have already shown interest in taking part on the first project phase, December 2006, and share profits with Universal, SpiralFrog and the musicians in Universal catalog according to themes (of'em) downloaded - and trust me, companies spend a lot more in advertizing than you do in music, and more even if it hits their targets.

No idea how DRM will work here though, because you don't want anyone profiting on your FREE distributable songs on places where there's no Internet (or the service - for now, planned to be available only in USA and Canada as I said before).

Kind Regards,
AMR
http://www.alvaromrocha.com

AMR wrote:The business model - still not explained - will garantee musicians still get a cut, at least, equivalent to iTunes and all users - FREE music. It's intention is to f**k up iTunes.

So if then...will it become useless to block the files from copying? Or will perhaps the whole idea of peer to peer sharing become useless?

Anyhow, to me it sounds very good if Universal can make it happen and really work it out. Maybe a good way for new musicians to make themselfs a name directly from what they've created without ruin themselfs completely. Maybe even an ending to the chase of poor people because of their free peer to peer downloadings. Sounds like a dream scenario...

Velodynamic wrote: So if then...will it become useless to block the files from copying? Or will perhaps the whole idea of peer to peer sharing become useless?

I think that altough you'll be able to get the music totally free, it will have some system to protect copying and to count download/playbacks for royaltie and return calculus purposes.

Music is becoming like TV, the more audience, the more well advertizers will pay for it, and as I said, they pay a lot more than 99 cents...

Kind Regards,
AMR
http://www.alvaromrocha.com

AMR wrote:

Velodynamic wrote: So if then...will it become useless to block the files from copying? Or will perhaps the whole idea of peer to peer sharing become useless?

I think that altough you'll be able to get the music totally free, it will have some system to protect copying and to count download/playbacks for royaltie and return calculus purposes.

Music is becoming like TV, the more audience, the more well advertizers will pay for it, and as I said, they pay a lot more than 99 cents...

Kind Regards,
AMR
http://www.alvaromrocha.com

Ok, I just hope they won't follow the TV and radio example and pack everything to its limits with commersial just to make it "free". Or a special music player called "poDi" with even more commersial about some flashy jeans in it. But now I'm beeing negative...lets stay positive.

I hope this will work - because if it's not... music business is severely fucked up for good

Or something.

/prophecy off

I like to pay for my music!

I saw this in the newspaper, pretty scary if you ask me. I'm still quite wary of the whole music for free thing.

AnDrOiD wrote:I like to pay for my music!

Yes, that's true, but it becomes more and more expensive. If they reduce the prices of cd's and dvd's to 50% of the current prices, it would be great! Then you have and the cd with booklet and a good discount!

Well - I'd always prefer to have the physical thing. Not some file on my computer. Physical things will never be available for free... and I don't mind that either

Eh? That sounds like the most bizarre offer ever in a place where RIAA exists.

GeeJee wrote:Well - I'd always prefer to have the physical thing. Not some file on my computer. Physical things will never be available for free... and I don't mind that either

Yes, I find the same thing. I've downloaded a lot of Autechre recently but having seen the vinyl at a record fair, I still wish I had those.

Well, usually owning things physically is kinda neat, but virtual stuff can be quite useful. But a dreamy solution for me would be to be able to download stuff like TV series, music, etc. but if I wanted, to order the same thing on physical form with cases and all and it wouldn't cost me anything (except for postal fees, maybe).

Also, if I buy an album or something I rip the tracks instantly to MP3/ogg, they're easier to use after that.

I really prefer virtual stuff on many cases, though. ...like porn

GeeJee wrote:Well - I'd always prefer to have the physical thing. Not some file on my computer. Physical things will never be available for free... and I don't mind that either

True. I like the sound quality much better this way.