Wait, what? Free music? Anyone heard of this?

[moojuice]

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article3261591.ece
U.K site talking about a new p2p program, for free legal music, but is sponsored by McDonalds, Ford, etc.

Seems big, suprised there are no big headlines about this. Here is the program they are talking about, which goes live soon.

http://qtrax.com/index.php

:-s:-s:-s:-s

Edit: Hmm, well, the first link I posted is an Onion-like website, so there goes the credibility. But the second link looks legit, up until the Legal Disclaimer, which basically contradicts everything on the main page. Guess I fell for it if its a joke :( lol

On Wikipedia, which lists fairly reputable sites: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qtrax

[Moxio]

Never heard of it. I think it's going Beta in 3 minutes. :lol:

[Demolition Man]

I will fully expect to hear "free" songs with references to Big Macs and Tauruses on this.

[moojuice]

Yeah, it seems way too good to be true, but it also does seem legit (contradiction much, lol). Like you said, beta goes live soon, and I wouldn't have known about this if my friend didn't send this to me.

[Moxio]

Uh, it's 12AM EST, where's the download?

[moojuice]

Hmm, well, the first link I posted is an Onion-like website, so there goes the credibility. But the second link looks legit, up until the Legal Disclaimer, which basically contradicts everything on the main page. Guess I fell for it if its a joke :( lol

[Magehart]

Schmexy

[moojuice]

Well, quick search on google shows that other non parody sites are reporting on this. Weird, I don't know whats going on. I need sleep >_<

[moojuice]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qtrax

[Moxio]

I think that TimesOnline is just making a joke article on how music companies are supporting this.

[camoor]

The outrageous actions of the RIAA have confused the media to the point where they cannot immediately separate parody and FUD from fact.

The RIAA has

- sued a 12 year-old girl in the projects for thousands for sharing less then 20 songs
- sued a grandmother for supposedly sharing gangsta rap
- sued a dead man for sharing songs
- claimed that ripping CD songs to mp3s is stealing, then backtracked on that assertion after the trial was over

With antics like these, is it any wonder that parodies sometimes get reported as news stories?

[botticus]

Just heard about this on the radio this morning, sounds... odd. I guess we'll see what happens at midnight (their dating is screwed up - it's actually midnight tonight, since it's 5am on the 29th GMT).

[seanr1221]

The first free song from McDonalds has been revealed!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSZ6k3QIsAk

[headpiece747]

I think I saw this on CNN today at the gym. It was saying that Warner music said no but other labels are still in negotiation.

Found this on CNN.com (http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/01/28/downloading.music.ap/index.html?iref=newssearch):
Qtrax touted in a press release Sunday morning that it was the first Internet file-swapping service to be "fully embraced by the music industry," and boasted it would carry up to 30 million tracks from "all the major labels."
New York-based Warner Music undermined that claim, declaring in a statement that it "has not authorized the use of our content on Qtrax's recently announced service."
Universal Music Group and EMI Group PLC later confirmed they did not have licensing deals in place with Qtrax, noting discussions were still ongoing. A call to Sony BMG Music Entertainment was not immediately returned.