UK Entrepreneurs Introduce A Free And Legal Online Music Service

Maricelle Ruiz — Tue, 08 May 2007 16:37:00 GMT

If you cannot beat them, join them – but in a legal and lucrative way. That is what United Kingdom musician Peter Gabriel, entrepreneur Steve Purdham and investor John Taysom have done regarding the multitude of people sharing music online.

In June, the entrepreneurs are scheduled to start operating an online music and advertising service, www.we7.com, where people may legally download music free-of-charge to share and play on MP3 players – provided they agree to listen to ads attached to the music for up to four weeks. The service – currently in the beta or testing stage – enables artists to receive royalties for their songs and advertisers to reach the Web 2.0 generation described as “a notoriously difficult audience to reach.”

“In the ‘can’t pay,’ ‘won’t pay’ digital world, where consumers expect ‘free’ content, the idea of We7 is simple: artists get paid, music fans get free downloads and advertisers get heard,” We7 CEO Purdham explains. “Also, under the battle cry of ‘Don’t Steal It – We7 It’, the We7 model removes a key driver of music piracy: cost.”

Gabriel adds: “We7 provides artists – even across the more experimental or minority genres – with the opportunity to build a new source of income from their music. “Ad funded downloads are the way to provide free music to the consumer without depriving musicians of their livelihood.”

We7 will graft short adverts onto the front of music tracks and albums based on consumer demographics, including age, location and gender, as well as preferences. The ads will remain attached to the tracks for up to four weeks so they are listened to repeatedly. Consumers who prefer ad-free tracks will have the option to purchase the music.

Everybody who signs up for We7 will also have the option to join the TasteMaker community to select their favorite music, including the music of new bands that according to community members deserves to be published. We7 members will therefore allow selected new artists to access more fans and earn royalties for their music.

The European Union battles another successful technology giant

Maricelle Ruiz — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 11:22:00 GMT

It’s a season of contrasts at Apple. A few days ago, the technology giant sold its 100 millionth iPod, making the iPod the fastest selling music player in history. And just like Microsoft, it also found itself in the middle of a European Union antitrust investigation.

IBLS Speaker's Corner : online music

UK Entrepreneurs Introduce A Free And Legal Online Music Service

The European Union battles another successful technology giant