BMI and QTRAX offer free streaming of music with a DRM twist

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Posted by	Dan Bell
Posted on	19/05/04 15:10
Number of views	640

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BMI and QTRAX offer free streaming of music with a DRM twist

U.S. performing rights organiztion BMI along with P2P folks QTRAX and Xpeer have entered into an interesting agreement. Starting sometime in the third quarter they will offer a QTRAX software that will enable us to stream music for free. What makes it interesting is targeted ads will be hitchiking along for the ride to pay the royalties for the content. However, if you want to burn the music to an optical disc you will have to pay. Now put on your tinfoil hat and read this- "The software also alters the file type by permanently attaching digital rights management features to the mp3 files. These alterations will result in the automatic reporting of performance data to BMI while retaining user anonymity. "We look at this technology as revolutionary in the P2P space," said Mike Rudd, President and CEO of Singwell International.

"Since we signed the first license for the performance of music on the Internet, we have continued to work with emerging technologies that create new venues for the performance of BMI music. By signing the BMI agreement, QTRAX is breaking new ground for a new breed of licensed peer-to-peer services, "said Richard Conlon, Vice President, Business Development and Marketing, Media Licensing, BMI. "The QTRAX service includes a new QTRAX file format, which secures the music within its environment. We hope that the BMI agreement will be the first in a series of agreements that QTRAX and others will enter into, to create totally licensed services."

Mike Rudd, President & CEO of Singwell International said, "It has taken two and a half years to reach Singwell's goal of facilitating a middle ground between the record industry, songwriters, publishers and the P2P software industry. Each of these industry stakeholders will benefit from the targeted promotion to the consumer we can provide. "

Whereas it's a great idea to offer free downloadable music via the Internet, funded by ads, it remains to be seen how this total concept will fly. Privacy advocates surely will be suspect of this DRM performance data add on. Stay tuned.

Source: Music Industry News

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Reactions on this item

Posted by thcz on Wednesday 19 May 2004 17:51

sounds like a good idea but a "lite" version of the QTRAX sounds even better.

Posted by katastrofe on Wednesday 19 May 2004 19:19

...or a version that comes bundled with Total Recorder

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