nothing is for free u still have to buy somthing so in other words if u think you can get anything on the web for free your dumber than dirt
Free Music downloads, Sorta
Categories: News, Rumors & Trends My Sansa My Music & Other Media Music
The era of paid music downloads is coming to an end (despite the fact that online sales are growing).
Qtrax, which has signed all four major labels (EMI, SonyBMG, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group), launched yesterday with 25 million songs (compared to around 3 m for Amazon and 6 m for iTunes)
It isn’t pretty - the downloaded songs are not compatible with iPods and have to be played via a proprietary player built on the Songbird platform. Ads are displayed during playback, even on music devices. For now the service is Windows only, so Mac users are left out. And right now the service is down completely from all the attention it’s getting.
For most people, BitTorrent and the music search engines are all they need for their illegal-but-highly-convenient music needs. Any additional hurdles means not a ton of usage. And since services like Imeem and Last.fm provide free on demand streaming music with ads, there is already real competition out there for Qtrax.
But the trend is clear - labels have given up on DRM completely and are willing to experiment with ad supported free downloads. Once they give up on the ad supported part of the model and just realize that recorded music is nothing more than marketing collateral for other revenue streams like live performances, we’ll have gotten somewhere. But my guess is that one of the labels has to go out of business first for that to happen.
Soon as I get a chance, and can download their software, I will give you an update on how it works and if you can copy the music to your Sansa.
May 14, 2008 9:04 AM
June 12, 2008 7:29 AM
updated: June 12, 2008 7:32 AM
*Sighs* It's useless. I wouldn't download ad-supported "free" music to my player unless I were desperate. Those who download music "illegally" tend to do it only for personal use. They don't sell it back to make profit from it (at least I have yet to meet someone who does), so how much harm is done to others? There are some things that can't be avoided, and sooner or later, music will have to be free, legally, like it or not. That era of paying for music online is coming to an end, like you say. We still buy CD's (I am actually willing to buy a CD if it's good enough); less than before, but we still do. And artists can live from Live concerts and shows. It's not like they are going bankrupt now. Sounds a little selfish from me to say that, but it's a reality.
And anyway, don't devices like the Zune support sharing of files among users?
Proud Rockbox'd Sansa User <3
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June 12, 2008 7:27 PM
There are all kinds of discussions about downloading music for free. Some say whats the difference between downloading and just recording it off the radio. Others disagree.
The lost sales are making alot of bands come back and tour though, so thats kinda cool.
View unverified member's comment - posted by Danielle
View unverified member's comment - posted by jose barrera
October 13, 2009 5:15 PM
updated: October 13, 2009 5:20 PM
Some of us have no clue how to download music illegally, but youtube is a simple way that I know of. Of course unless you have the right programs you have to take the movie with it too. I think I agree with Dr. Phil. I think it's sad that musicians will lose profits on their creations because people can get it for free. I think if a website doesn't even offer the option of "free" it would help, because there are those who do know how to download without paying. I've run into sites like SoundCrank and Audible that look like they don't offer downloads for free, but SoundCrank does ,itunes software downloads
View unverified member's comment - posted by ericav(aka)dollfacce
January 14, 2010 4:48 PM
updated: January 14, 2010 4:49 PM
I agree musicians need to make money for there work. free music downloads should be used sparingly and only by companies that will agree to cover the price of the song so it is free to the consumer but is still payed for.
View unverified member's comment - posted by dwight f
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