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Universal to Offer Music for Free

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the not-free-as-in-anything dept.

wild_berry writes "The BBC reports that Universal Music has signed a deal to make its music available for a free and legally-licensed download. Available from a new music site called SpiralFrog, the deal will allow users in the USA and Canada to listen to Universal's music, which Reuters' news site reveals is paid for by targeted advertising, but no details of possible community or playlist sharing features of the SpiralFrog service. Is the immunity from litigation enough to make up for having targeted advertising on each page and not being able to write the music to CD or a portable player?"

3 of 356 comments (clear)

  1. "The big companies"? by Artifice_Eternity · · Score: 5, Informative

    RTFA, please. At least the first sentence:

    Universal Music, the world's largest music company, has agreed to back a new venture that will allow consumers to download songs for free and instead rely on advertising for its revenues.

    This is a big deal.

  2. Re:Woncer what DRM they will use... by Kesh · · Score: 4, Informative
    AAC is Apple-only.

    AAC is NOT an Apple-only format. The Fairplay DRM that Apple uses on their songs purchased through iTunes is Apple-only, but non-DRM AAC is available on any music player that wants it.

  3. Re:Artists rejoice! by ZigiSamblak · · Score: 4, Informative

    Artists receive royalties every time their song is played on the radio.