From today, feel free to download another 25 million songs - legally

[loser_user]

From The Times:

After a decade fighting to stop illegal file-sharing, the music industry will give fans today what they have always wanted: an unlimited supply of free and legal songs.

With CD sales in free fall and legal downloads yet to fill the gap, the music industry has reluctantly embraced the file-sharing technology that threatened to destroy it. Qtrax, a digital service announced today, promises a catalogue of more than 25 million songs that users can download to keep, free and with no limit on the number of tracks....

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article3261591.ece

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RIAA finally giving up?

[Richard Steele]

1. It's a TRAP. Back away slowly, and keep your eyes peeled for movement in the treeline.

If you know what I mean.

[rockymountaindem]

2. This can't be for real

Why don't they just have people distributing CDs on the street for free? It's the same concept. There's got to be something else behind this.

[AlphaCentauri]

3. Must be a subscription service (nt)

[DaveJ]

4. If this is true, with no knowledge to back up the claim mind you...

My guess is their DRM would prevent people from copying the songs to their mp3 players. In addition, people may only be able to play the music using Qtrax software which would inundate the listeners with their sponsors' advertisements. In a nefarious sort of way it's a brilliant idea.

[MonkeyFunk]

5. I'm suspicious, too

but the article refers to people docking their players periodically for QTRAX to monitor how often songs were played (which is part of the formula for paying artists).

They say it's not compatible with the iPod initially, but they'll have a solution by April.

Very interesting, if true.

[SmellsLikeDeanSpirit]

6. Never trust the RIAA and there ilk.