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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'."
I hope that I can hear the 1108 Thugz on an elevator soon. Preferably Fast Food Fuckin', but I'm not picky.
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.
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!
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;
per www.muzak.com, "Muzak(R) is a registered trademark of Muzak LLC."
one, two, one two like a duck
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
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.
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.