Universal Music to make music universal?
August 31, 2006 by Dave Earley
Filed under Media, News
Oh, what a witty, witty post title!
First reported in this Financial Times article, Universal Music (of U2, PJ Harvey, Queens of the Stone Age, Kanye West etc etc) is backing a small company that will offer free music downloads. The story has now grown (and i can’t verify the accuracy or lack thereof) to being reported as Universal Music planning to offer their entire catalogue of music for free download, funded through advertising. There are different reports about the level of annoyance that will likely be experienced by users, since heavy advertising will be required to fund it.
The logic behind the decision is that while iTunes and other stores have improved the ratio of illegal to legal downloads and purchases, there are still 40 illegal downloads for every legal one.
Downside? Probably only initially available in the US and UK. There are also reports the download format will be Microsoft’s WMA, so not compatible with iPods. I don’t like that iTunes song purchases are only compatible with iPods, I neither like the idea that these free downloads won’t be compatible with iPods. Why can’t everyone just get along and use the MP3 format??
Other links:
ilounge
Telegraph – and just because British headlines are an art form, ” Universal plays download variation in concert with eager new player”
New York Times
