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TruSonic Uses MP3.com Catalog As Muzak
Wacky_Wookie writes "Well, it looks like all the artists who put their songs up on MP3.com are about to break into a whole new market - elevators! The Register is reporting that Vivendi, who had control over MP3.com's archive of over 1.5 million songs even after the site's sale to CNET, has sold rebroadcasting rights to TruSonic.com, who sell them as piped music to hotels, restaurants and other businesses, passing on royalties along the way. I guess this is Vivendi's way of 'lifting' artists into new markets." Unfortunately, according to the TruSonic site FAQ, the site "does not support any type of artist page that is accessible by the public", and, according to another independent page, "any song that any artist [uploaded to MP3.com since a certain date?] got enrolled into TruSonic unless the artist 'opted out'."
They are using the mp3.com catalog as background music.
one, two, one two like a duck
I hope that I can hear the 1108 Thugz on an elevator soon. Preferably Fast Food Fuckin', but I'm not picky.
Brings new meaning to the term "going down..." :(
:(
Seriously, isn't elevator music bad enough already? Ugh, I think I will have to quit my job and find one on the 1st floor
That actually depresses me a bit, as I had bought some music off of mp3.com when it was around (believe it or not: the Megatokyo soundtrack. Yeah, I'm a geek.).
It was one of the few places where an independant artist could try and sell their wares without RIAA influence.
Now, it seems that Vivendi is doing everything they can to kill it off and make sure that the independant artists have no options to be heard by the public except through "established channels" - aka, through the Music Cartel.
52 Weeks, 52 Religions with John Hummel
As good of an idea as this is, the system should have been made opt-in instead of opt-out. Some people might not mind being heard on the web, but being heard through other mediums may not be in their plans. And, also, there is no way for an independent artist to have been heard by say, a record label, and contact the person, as there is no interface. Good idea, bad implementation.
And why did you staple the trout to the RAM?
that we can be sued for using an elevator?
Trusonic is pretty cool. They are an offshoot of MP3.com (before MP3 died and the domain name was sold to cnet) called "Retail Music Services". They used to use small, rugged PCs with a couple of audio output jacks, running Linux. They probably have something better now, but it was cool to see Linux boxes at the back of businesses.
-ted
I'm sure the artists did not envision this for there music when it was uploaded to mp3.com. This is certainly not going to increase sales of an artists music. Who while sitting in the elevator says, "I wonder who that is." If people were curious they wouldn't have the ability to ask. According to the article the artists are complaining about royalties. It looks like a way for the corporations to circumvent licensing agreements and make money off of content they shouldn't own.
I would like to salute the ashes of american flags, and all the fallen leaves filling up shopping bags.
From the article:
Subconscious copying of a copyrighted work into a new work is actionable infringement. Bright Tunes Music v. Harrisongs Music, 420 F. Supp. 177 (S.D.N.Y. 1976). Given this precedent, what steps can a recording artist (call him "George") who writes his own songs take (a) to avoid subconsciously copying copyrighted songs, or (b) to minimize potential damages to George should another copyright holder discover that George had subconsciously misappropriated his copyrighted song?
I have *never* heard music played in an actual elevator. In restaurants, hospital lobbies, stores, lots of public places, but can't ever recall it in an elevator, and I've been in many that were packed with sleepy commuters going in to the office.
try { do() || do_not(); } catch (JediException err) { yoda(err); }
Pieces of shit didn't ever inform me that I had to opt-out of this. I had a catalog of over 40 tunes on MP3.com. Now without even informing me about this I am looking at having my stuff licensed out as elevator music. Fuck that.
/me begins firing off angry emails.
I can't believe I had to opt-out of something that they didn't even begin to tell me that this was happening in the first place. I'm not really surprised. Just angry. MP3.com's management has always been a pain in the ass.
What rights? I just had my songs sold for muzak because I didn't opt out. Let's go further, forget rights, how about a little decency and ask? You'd think, since the artsists made that site what it is, they'd actually give us a little respect. I guess not when you get lots of money for screwing some person you'll never see.
My band was at one time an MP3.com artist, and let me tell you, if they want to pipe Wrapped In Red into an elevator, they couldn't make me happier!
Makes me glad I was born with no musical talent, now I can't get fucked over by the music industry.
Linux O Muerte!
Speaking as an artist who was formerly on MP3.com I suppose it's kind of amusing that I could end up as elevator music.
At least I have always given some material away for free but I cant help wondering what elevators I am going to be heard in.
Although there *may* be a limited revenue stream from the comission from these lift-music systems, that not what independant music is really about. A lot of MP3.com artists hoped to start by giving their music away and/or selling it cheaply and by gaining popularity to get a record deal, i.e. get famous and repected first.
On the other hand having your music played in some random lift with noone knowing who you are will never get anyone musical success. I feel this is just another facet to the exploitation of the artist by the industry.
use Blunt::Instrument;
I'm a little irked that...
:)
1) I never was notified that I had to opt-out
2) I've vitually lost the copyright on my songs through some fancy corporate wheelin' and dealin'.
The thing that I'm most worried about, though, is that someday I may be sued for having an 'unauthorized' copy (the masters) of my own music.
Actually, I put my music on mp3.com so that others could enjoy it (not to make money, not to advertise). I guess if there's even the slightest chance that another person will hear my works, it coincides with the original intent. Incidently, I have a day job, but have a great deal of sympathy for those who do this for a living.
The Other Nate
You get opted in by default....
I don't see what the problem is ...
a) if they play your music, you will get paid
b) if you want out, you can get out
how DO you opt out? I have some music that I was planning to remove from their site, but they went under before I had the chance. I'd like to cut off any relations with them. I DON'T want to be receiving royalties or be making any money off the music.
have you ever listened to Muzak... ON WEEEED??
You people (the complainers) are so stupid.
This program has been going on for years. TruSonic has been around since 2000. Mp3.com artists have been used as elevator music for over 3 years already.
All that happened is that division of mp3.com called TruSonic got sold seperately from the rest of mp3.com.
Maybe try reading the artist agreement before you give your music away.
dumbasses.
I was an MP3.com artist and for obvious reasons wanted to opt out. Here's the link.
Years ago, I was in an elevator that was playing muzak.
Normally it's easy to ignore, but in this case the tune was maddeningly familiar. I listened, started humming with it and realized what they were playing:
Black Sabbath's "Paranoid"
It's been all downhill after that.
So rise up, all ye lost ones, as one, we'll claw the clouds.
...sell them as piped music to hotels, restaurants and other businesses, passing on royalties along the way.
Passing on royalties? All the The Register article says about royalties is:
Artists who created the 1.5 million song archive have already expressed some disquiet about royalties. TruSonic has a very limited pool for the 250,000 artists, based on the number of plays, but has said it may re-evaluate this.
The TruSonic FAQ says:
How do artists benefit?
The main benefit for artists whose music is used in this program is increased public exposure to listeners who might not otherwise hear that music. An additional benefit is the royalties earned should your song be included in one or more playlists.
It's been repeated many times here and elsewhere, musicians do not make money from royalties, they make money from gigs. Because of the way their contracts are written, all expenses of production, distribution, advertising etc are deducted, usually leaving Zero. The only benefit of signing a recording contract is exposure (fame). TruSonic acknowledges this (sort of) in their FAQ.
You people (the complainers) are so stupid.
I have a picture you shouting your post aloud that in the voice of that guy from the beginning of WarGames.
What's his name, Melvin?:
"You guys are SO dumb, I've got it all figured out, all by myself!"
Your hybrid is not saving the environment. Its purpose is to make you feel good about buying something.
The only problem with the Trusonic side of the story is that they are claiming to have acquired the licensing for 250,000 artists -- exactly what we were told two months ago was the headcount for all of the mp3.com archive.
And the million and a half songs is a half million MORE than the figure being bandied about prior to mp3.com's demise.
Somehow, they got them all. And Vivendi mysteriously feels as if they suddenly possess infinite licenses for all of those songs, despite the fact that assignation of license is certainly not mentioned in the mp3 Terms of Service Agreement.
Cafepress.com offers to create a music CD (or data CD) for ya, similar to the way MP3.com did, 'cept you can do more customizing of the cover and disc. You can't download full songs, but you can stream samples of tracks.
Here's mine
Anybody find anything else out there to replace MP3.com, yet?
Some people are like slinkys. They're useless, but it puts a smile on your face to push them down the stairs.
So I found their Opt-Out page. My band had music on there way back when, so I put in the email addy and password, told it to opt-out, and submitted it.
"Thank you for considering truSONIC, Your request has been recorded."
Only I'm pretty sure I typed the password wrong. So I typed in gibberish for the account name and password. And I get the same message. What's up with that?
Who doesn't like free music?
I first couldn't find my password, then found an old email with the password, but I'm not sure if I've changed that during the years, but anyway I tried the opt-out page as well and also had the feeling I typed it wrong but got the same message. I too thought: "This is pretty fake"
I don't think they check it at that time, because I couldn't login with the same credentials in their new system and they couldn't check if my music was up for a future music set from them. That's pretty close to "we don't have any records about who owns this music, we just have the mp3's".
Never underestimate the relief of true separation of Religion and State.