With Ad, Music Downloads Sing a New Tune:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/30/business/media/30adco.html?scp=5&sq=music%20itunes&st=cse
This article discusses a new online music downloading service called FreeAllMusic.com, which they describe as a combination of iTunes and Hulu. Basically, the site allow free music downloads, but you must watch an ad first, then the company whose ad you chose pays for that download in what they call a "microsponsorhip". While this seems like a good idea, both to help decrease illegal music downloading and help companies sponsor music, I'm not sure that it will actually work. The article suggests that listeners will be forced to watch and pay attention to the ad they choose, making it a much more effective marketing tool. I don't think this will be the case however, and people will still just ignore the ad and continue on to the "free" music. Also, as of now, the service only allows 20 downloads per month, with a maximum of 5 each session. So while this is a great alternative to illegally downloading music for free on the internet, I don't think it will make to much of a difference, since people will want more than 20 free songs in a month. To me this is definitely a good idea and a great start to correcting the illegal downloading problem, but it should definitely be expanded on.
Interesting idea, but I am not sold on it working either. I still like the idea of downloading albums as a whole vs MP3's myself and would be more willing to endure watching an ad if I could get an entire album at one convenient location and download.
ReplyDeleteI think that is a great idea. Though I do think that it needs some more evolution before it becomes a fantastic idea. I love to watch Hulu, and they have short 30 second commercials, I generally ignore them but I tend to ignore all commercials. Even if I watch TV I have a DVR box so I record the shows then FF through commercials. So I don't think it is a bad idea to watch a commercial to get a free song. Also, only 20 songs a month might be expanded if that idea can take off.
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