Qtrax Launches: Free and Legal Music Downloads Have Arrived
The long-delayed but much-anticipated service from Qtrax is finally going to launch - supposedly going live this Sunday at 12:00 am Eastern. Qtrax, in case you haven't heard, is a P2P file sharing network that has been in the works for eight years. However, it's not just any P2P file-sharing network - it's the world's first free and legal P2P file-sharing network that has the support of all four major record labels (EMI, SonyBMG, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group).
Why Qtrax?
According to a recent study by Jupiter Research, for each song sold, 100 more were stolen. The study also reported that 94% of online music consumers were unwilling to pay for music. The record labels finally got the hint: the Napster Generation thinks music should be free, and they will find a way to get it for free, despite laws or lawsuits. When the record companies realized all their attempts to make up for lost revenue from CD sales had failed, they knew that they now had no alternative but to offer free music to the online masses.
Enter Qtrax
The Qtrax catalog currently boasts 5,000,000 songs, but has plans to eventually offer over 25 million. This makes Qtrax poised to become the most complete online catalog of no-cost legal downloads anywhere in the world. The site, which will launch in Cannes, France with support from stars like James Blunt and LL Cool J is being heralded as the "death knell for CDs" as well as "a massive challenge to iTunes."
The Good
- Songbird-Like Player: Qtrax users download the Qtrax Player, a program built upon the popular Songbird platform. The player functions as the search engine and player for the tunes but it also provides access to a website filled with artist content, including videos, ringtones, lyrics, album art, and up-to-the-minute artist news.
- You Can Upload Your Music: Qtrax says that its users can upload their own music, including songs bought on iTunes or other services.
- May Include "Grey" Music: Since the service will let users upload their own collections, it's possible that Qtrax will allow the tunes like live recordings or demos. Although details are fuzzy on this, if these rare gems were included, Qtrax would have another big selling point.
- Artists are Compensated: Qtrax works with record labels and publishers, licensing their content for distribution online. when you download and play music, the support of advertisers allows Qtrax to compensate artists for their work, something that doesn't happen when you use illegal P2P networks.
- Safe & Free: They is no cost to download the software, there are no hidden charges, no membership fees, and no per song costs. There's also no adware, spyware, or spoofing.
The Bad
- Songbird-Like Player: It may be cool, but it's also mandatory to use the player. Since the player is where the service displays the ads, you must use it, no getting around it.
- DRM: Despite the recent wave of DRM-free music, Qtrax songs will be wrapped in DRM.
- No Beatles here, either: Some music is still not cleared by labels for digital distribution, so even though this has industry support, you're not going to find those missing tunes here.
- PC-Only (for now): And by PC, they mean Vista and XP only. The Mac version won't be out until March 18th.
The Worst
- QTrax songs can't be played on iPods. They say this may change at a later date, but until then, this will kill the service's potential in a big way.
What it Means
What's most important about Qtrax's launch is the changed mentality of the record labels' vision for the online music marketplace. Having them realize that they must offer free music in order to compete with industry behemoths like iTunes, is a promising step in the right direction.
And free music doesn't have to be the disaster labels have always thought. Says Qtrax chief Allan Klepfisz, "the idea of free music is not so radical. Commercial radio and free-to-air television is paid for by advertisers and available for free to consumers."
Exactly.
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It certainly is a great improvement. I'm just wondering, why should people start using this service when there are so many *illegal* p2p networks out there. No DRM, no ads and portable.
"The Qtrax catalog currently boasts 25,000,000 songs, but has plans to eventually offer over 25 million"
Um, what? They have 25 million now, and later will have..more?
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I've never understood the importance of the Beatles catalog availability beyond its symbolic importance. I would argue that anyone who likes the Beetles and wants their music already owns it on CD and/or vinyl. Is there *anyone* out there who is saying to themselves "I really want 'The White Album' and I've been wanting it for nearly 40 years, but I am NOT going to buy it until I can download it digitally because I am just too lazy to rip it from a CD myself!"
It would take over 160 years to listen to 25,000,000 tracks - and that's if you listened 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
These people may not be insane now, but by the time they get through that lot they will be. Oh yes... they will be.
Thomas: that should have been 5 million now, 25 million in the future. I fixed it. Thanks!
that sux that you cant put the music you download for free on your ipod, whats the point in downloading the music when the main reason you download the music is to then put it onto your iod.its finally about time you can download music for free but now we should be able to put it onto uor ipods as well.otherwise it sounds all good and i will start to use this website to start and download my music, as will many others eventually when they get ear of what actually QTrax is.goodluck with it all...
from tash
If you can't beat the enemy, join them. It is at least a move by the big labels to come up with some alternatives to meet the market demand, instead of just chasing after the file sharing services.
Yup, it's dead.
You had me almost all the way through the article, even the DRM and having to use the QTrax player wasn't so bad (though I am on a Mac, so not being able to yet irked me somewhat) when it is free.
The nail in the coffin is the iPod issue though. 80% of the time I listen to music on my iPod and the other 20% from my computer. I'm not even visiting the QTrax site to see what they say until you report here that you can use it on an iPod.
Well they didnt go live today ....this service is still Vaporware
really great information about free music!
http://www.spymac.com/details/?2337331
What would this mean towards Amazon's move into selling music tracks at $0.99 cents? I guess there will always be individuals who don't subscribe to free deals.
interesting... But I would like to play it in my ipod :(
b>http://www.spymac.com/details/?2337382
Yeah great, though playing in a proprietary PC player with ads kinda sucks
Can't see it replacing the current model of just copying mp3's
I don't think there really is a solution to this whole issue of music piracy, the problem is the market is UTTERLY SATURATED with the million or so artists out there + you have a distribution model where people expect you product to cost $0. I do feel sorry for artists cos it really is just a terrible market to try and make a living off
So no one can download to an ipod. Does that mean I have to burn to cds and reload them into my computer to get them into my Ipod, or it just won't work??
It's like 12:50AM EST and no sign of a working link to download the software for Qtrax - what gives? Apparently, they are already not standing by their claims. Hmm...I guess the guy that was supposed to activate the link fell asleep listening to all that free music bottled up at the warehouse...
You can't burn CDs from it or download to an iPod. DRM means the only ways a computer user can copy it is: A. to hack the DRM, or B. play the songs in real-time while recording with Adobe Audition, then create individual tracks, etc.
It's simply another move towards listening to music without paying for it. Don't try to find the limitations - focus on the big picture. RIAA is getting obsolete, isn't it?
Eyal,
http://www.sutree.com/
Two issues here:
1. What a slap in the face to those currently being prosecuted by the RIAA for music piracy - those charges are likely to remain and the cases will reflect the legislation in place at the time the charge was laid - so the single mom in Duluth Minnesota will stay on the hook for $260,000, while those who use QTrax get off scott-free.
2. Has this effectively set up a monopoly business model - QTrax is legal and all other P2P software (bittorrent, limewire, kazaa, napster etc) will be illegal?
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When individual songs (as music or mp3s) become a "loss leader" will those current exhorbitantly expensive concert ticket prices (60-100 dollars) suddenly increase as companies try to offset the loss of revenue? Will we still be able to even purchase CDs or Vinyl in a store and will the price on these products come down or increase in price?
You state in your post that "the world's first free and legal P2P file-sharing network that has the support of all four major record labels (EMI, SonyBMG, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group)."
What do you make of this article from Reuter's stating that these major labels have not actually endorsed Qtrax?
http://www.reuters.com/article/mediaNews/idUSN2848657520080128
Look this: http://www.spymac.com/details/?2337885
It does not just effect iPod. There are 5,000,000 iPhones out there since Christmas. Think of the implications that it will have on MP4 downloads for iPhone
For some reason the site wont let me register? is there something i have'nt done and need to do?
when i try to download songs it says the page at http://music.qtrax.com says Downloads coming soon !!
This is really interesting about this: http://www.spymac.com/details/?2337331
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Does any1 know when the actual ability to download will be available.
i can't register and can't download a thing what's the problem with qtrax?
are they still busy??