It’s A New World! MP3’s Without DRM To Be Launched
02.16.07 - 01:04pm
PassAlong Networks is set to open their 2 million song catalog of Indie artists into a MP3 format that is compatible with MP3 players and the iPod. PassAlong offers music from legendary artists such as Frank Sinatra, James Brown, and the new players such as Green Day, Barenaked Ladies, along with breaking bands like Hold Steady. It is set to launch in 30 days.
In a press release, PassAlong Networks Dave Jaworski, co-founder and CEO of PassAlong Networks said “We have heard the consumer ask for interoperability, so we are offering our two million song independent catalog to our business customers as MP3s. Consumers have waited long enough for the opportunity to buy songs from multiple services that will play everywhere — on iPods, cell phones and their PCs. In addition to the launch of the Indie catalog, we are inviting the major labels to test our proprietary freedomMP3â„¢ technology, which will allow them to make their catalogs available in MP3 format with a reasonable amount of rights management.”
“Apple’s Steve Jobs’ open letter to the industry cited three alternatives for DRM. We see freedomMP3 as a logical fourth option for the industry to consider,” he said.
PassAlong allows anyone to have their own online music store with Storeblocks, and have access to their catalog. Store owners keep 10 percent of sales. As soon as the MP3’s go live all of PassAlongs current Storeblocks, including Procter & Gamble’s HomeMadeSimple.com, will offer the MP3 catalog.
Artists are also able to sell and advertise their music through PassAlong’s Speakerheart. Artists are able to advertise on the web via sites like MySpace and Blogger. The artist can then sell their music while retaining 75 cents on the dollar.
And so the music world has opened up for the artist, as well as for the listener and a world of competition has begun, finally, in the MP3 market.
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