Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Off-The-Shelf Online Music Stores

Posted by timothy on from the commoditization dept.

jpkunst writes "The Chicago Sun-Times and C|Net news.com report about a new product from Loudeye Digital Media Solutions and Microsoft: pre-fab online music stores for companies who want to join the digital music goldrush. I wonder when this bubble is going to burst."

7 of 226 comments (clear)

  1. But Record companies DO PROFIT by jetkust · · Score: 3, Informative

    Maybe Apple doesn't make any money on their music store. But the record companies basically get a free distribution system and extra profit at no expense. Money IS being made from this.

  2. Re:Burst... by _LFTL_ · · Score: 3, Informative

    While it's definitely not the perfect solution, and lacks alot of the features you've cited, iRATE is a nice "distribution hub" that basically gathers links from free music sites, points your client to the site, and then allows you to moderate to your tastes. I've definitely found some music I like that I never would have heard on through normal outlets.

    LFTL

  3. Re:what bubble? by fastidious+edward · · Score: 2, Informative

    Not a lot of money... Apple had revenues of USD5.74bn and profits of USD1.60bn last financial year. USD0.00125bn doesn't scratch much.

    --

    karma karma karma karma karma chameleon, you come and go, you come and go.
  4. Caveat Emptor by LoD+at+MIT · · Score: 3, Informative

    One caution, especially for those considering using this service. Loudeye are the guys who screwed the pooch for the MIT LAMP system by selling material that they did not have the right to actually sell.

    Quick backstory: MIT bought MP3s on hard drives from Loudeye to broadcast over MIT cable channels, which they have an ASCAP liscense for. Before the purchase, MIT asked Loudeye to verify that they could in fact sell MIT the music for this purpose. Loudeye indicated that they had the rights.

    Of course, they day the system launched, the RIAA sat up and began complaining that Loudeye actually had no such rights.

    Yeah. The lesson here? Always save the receipts...

  5. Music section? by freeweed · · Score: 2, Informative

    Slashdot editors, can we please have a music section?

    Isn't that what the little icon of a gramaphone stands for? The one right up top of the page there?

    --
    Endless arguments over trivial contradictions in books written by ignorant savages to explain thunder in the dark.
  6. Re:what bubble? by MikeMo · · Score: 2, Informative

    Best year ever? Even better than the year they had $12BN in revenue (1994)? Based on what?

  7. another music model to look at... by muletaper · · Score: 3, Informative

    livephish.com has supposedly been profitable from day one. another site with a similiar model has recently emerged -- www.digitalsoundboard.net three hours of FLAC for $13. wonder when their bubble will burst.