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VIRTUALISATION Virgin Media launches stream + download music service
VIRTUALISATION Virgin Media launches stream + download music service | Virgin Media launches stream + download music service |
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| by Jake Widman | |
| Tuesday, 16 June 2009 | |
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Existing services tend to take one of two forms: subscription services (Rhapsody , Napster) let you stream or download as much music as you want for a single monthly fee, but you don't get to keep the music if you cancel your subscription. And music stores (iTunes, Amazon) let you keep the tracks you buy, but you have to pay for each track you download. Other companies have tried hybrid models -- eMusic, for example, charges a monthly "subscription" fee that entitles you to download and keep a certain number of tracks -- but the Virgin model seems to be the first true "all you can eat" service. According to the announcement, a subscription will enable Virgin Media broadband customers to stream and download as many tracks as they want, keep anything they download, and transfer songs to any MP3-compatible device. Virgin is looking to sign up other music labels by the time of the service's launch later this year. Such a service -- unlimited, DRM-free downloads -- obviously carries with it the risk of piracy. For how Virgin and Universal intend to address that, see Page 2. |
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