MP3 Summit gets karaoke fever

Internet music provider MP3.com and its partners kicked off their third annual MP3 Summit with an array of new developments, including a karaoke service and an open source alternative to MP3.

MP3.com hit the headlines recently when a judge ruled that my.mp3.com, a service that enables users to upload their CDs and play them anywhere they want, was liable for copyright infringement.

At the show taking place in California this week, MP3.com rolled out the first version of its Music Service Provider (MSP) Platform which allows music providers to offer customers personalised music content and services.

The platform includes five components: MSP Content, which features all the digital music available on MP3.com; MSP Co-Brand, which enables partners to jointly market my.mp3.com's music manager; Instant Listening, which allows users to gain instant digital access to previously purchased music; Beam-It, which enables consumers to listen to their CDs using software and hardware devices; and a set of application programming interfaces.

Michael Robertson, chairman and chief executive of MP3.com, said: "This platform lays the groundwork for the delivery of music as a service."

MP3Karaoke.com, the so-called internet karaoke service provider, also launched its website at the show combining MP3 with a karaoke facility. The site provides users with 24-hour access to an updated library of high quality music to sing along to.

John Collins, MP3Karaoke.com's chief executive, said: "Most retail outlets may stock a dozen or so karaoke titles. With MP3Karaoke.com consumers have access to thousands of catalogued songs and instant access to the newest releases."

MP3.com also announced a partnership with Upseek.com to integrate its music services and content into Upseek.com's job-search website.

Meanwhile, a group of open source developers said they have created a new music format that will be free and will provide equal or better quality sound than MP3. Vorbis, the open source project led by programmers at online entertainment company iCast, was unveiled in beta form at the summit.

It will be released without intellectual property restrictions, which means software companies, internet radio producers and music sellers can use the format without having to pay licence fees.