SpiralFrog has teamed up with Universal Music Group to offer ad-supported music
SpiralFrog offers free legal music downloads
/v3-uk/news/1991010/spiralfrog-offers-free-legal-music-downloads
30 Aug 2006, Will Head , V3
A new music download service is promising free legal tracks to users who agree to watch adverts.
SpiralFrog has teamed up with Universal Music Group, which publishes artists such as Elton John and Eminem, to offer ad-supported music to surfers in the US and Canada.
Under the agreement, SpiralFrog will have access to Universal's back catalogue. In exchange for viewing adverts, customers will be permitted to download tracks free of charge.
Downloaded tracks will still be protected by digital rights management technology, however, to prevent unauthorised copying.
Robin Kent, chief executive at SpiralFrog, claimed that the service will offer consumers a better experience than that of pirate music sites, with no risk of viruses or spyware.
"Piracy continues to be one of the biggest issues facing the music industry where illegal file sharing and unauthorised CD burning are the prime means of music piracy," he said.
Ovum analyst Michele Mackenzie added: "There are already hundreds of music service providers in the European market, most of which are struggling to compete with Apple's dominant iTunes/iPod ecosystem.
"We expect more providers to explore this avenue as a larger share of advertising revenue shifts from traditional to online media."
However, Mackenzie warned that the advertising pot is not bottomless. "Those that succeed in attracting advertising revenue will be those that can guarantee advertisers the right audience," she said.
"Few service providers are currently in a position to provide the large audiences that advertisers require, and few pure music providers have the heritage of building a business funded by advertising.
"SpiralFrog [also] does not appear to have a portable or mobile component, which again would be a faux pas in an age when users want to be able to port their music to other devices and take it with them."
The service, aimed at 13 to 34 year-olds, will launch later this year.
© Incisive Media Investments Limited 2010, Published by Incisive Financial Publishing Limited, Haymarket House, 28-29 Haymarket, London SW1Y 4RX, are companies registered in England and Wales with company registration numbers 04252091 & 04252093
Do you agree?
hurry
hurry up cant wait for this bout time
Posted by glen, 02 Sep 2006
2 cents!
Piracy continues to be one of the biggest issues facing the music industry where illegal file sharing and unauthorised CD burning are the prime means of music piracy,"
BOO BOOO HOOO Cry to someone who cares its never going to stop Gee think about it ... Msn messenger... what can ya do over it .. Swap Files!! Same with Yahoo and Other Messengers... Gee think about this Computer Devices are Portable Friends can Come over with a few hundred songs they copied off Cds share them with me i can share mine then friends of friends can go and do the same and it spreads like a Diesease People need to stop Crying cause it isnt going to stop its only getting worse the more people try to make a fast buck off somethin that is soo innocent. Yes i do understand the commotion over the Rock stars not making Money off cd recording sales but hmmm isnt that what Live Venues do? Live shows Are the best thing artists can do... what do you think real rembrants do to make money they do real live art and sure as hell dont make money off copies anyways theres my 2 cents but also this program eeehhhh seems like a evil ploy to get stupid people to fal into the RIAA's trap and under thier spell HAHAHA cant get me!! SUCKA!!
Posted by SATAN, 31 Aug 2006
Brilliant!
I think its great that finally someone is thinking of the consumers!
Posted by Steph, 30 Aug 2006
long time wait
great to see it come of age
caint wait to use this site.
Posted by jason, 31 Aug 2006
13 to 34
If I am younger/older than 13/34 will my computer blow up by downloading music
Posted by Brian, 03 Sep 2006
legal or not?
its hard to imagine that this isnt goin to be considered illegal
Posted by Paul, 12 Sep 2006
when
when this year though?
Posted by Damon, 28 Jan 2007