P2P start-up gets record label deals

pr0digal jenius · Nov 24, 2004, 08:00 PM

A small peer-to-peer start-up has won rights from three of the four major record labels to distribute their music online.

The deals with Peer Impact, a new division of online marketing company Wurld Media, continues the labels' gradual warming trend toward peer-to-peer services. Top label executives have increasingly said they are willing to support file-swapping networks, as long as no pirated songs appear alongside authorized works.

For now, Peer Impact's partners include Universal Music, Sony BMG and the Warner Music Group. The company remains in negotiations with EMI Music and plans to launch the file-swapping service in early 2005.

Songs will cost 99 cents, as they do at Apple Computer's iTunes and other download stores, and they'll be wrapped in copyp-protection technology. But executives say the file-swapping technology can help build relationships between customers in a way ordinary Net music stores can't.

"Consumers like the concept of community," said Wurld Media Chief Executive Officer Greg Kerber. "We have seen that when successful companies like eBay build large communities, and people share in that, there is power in that for the consumer."
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Source/Read More: C|Net

Nov 24, 2004, 08:00 PM	#1
pr0digal jenius Delete Me Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 14,648 Rep Power: 0	P2P start-up gets record label deals A small peer-to-peer start-up has won rights from three of the four major record labels to distribute their music online. The deals with Peer Impact, a new division of online marketing company Wurld Media, continues the labels' gradual warming trend toward peer-to-peer services. Top label executives have increasingly said they are willing to support file-swapping networks, as long as no pirated songs appear alongside authorized works. For now, Peer Impact's partners include Universal Music, Sony BMG and the Warner Music Group. The company remains in negotiations with EMI Music and plans to launch the file-swapping service in early 2005. Songs will cost 99 cents, as they do at Apple Computer's iTunes and other download stores, and they'll be wrapped in copyp-protection technology. But executives say the file-swapping technology can help build relationships between customers in a way ordinary Net music stores can't. "Consumers like the concept of community," said Wurld Media Chief Executive Officer Greg Kerber. "We have seen that when successful companies like eBay build large communities, and people share in that, there is power in that for the consumer." _____________________ Source/Read More: C\|Net