free downloads

From an interview at Tape Op Magazine (download PDF of interview excerpts here):

- 2 tickets to Bonnaroo 2008
- OurStage Tent
- Free downloads of live Bonnaroo shows
- Free DJ Lessons
- $500 Travel Budget
- AND 2 tickets to Bonnaroo 2009!!!

Go here if you are so inclined.

I got an email from the Qtrax Launch Team this morning. You remember Qtrax, right? The legal P2P service that failed to get licensing deals signed before it threw launch parties and was written up in newspapers across the globe. Definitely one of the greatest non-launch/worst launches of all time.

• Rykodisc is turning 25 this year, and to celebrate will give away five free downloads a month from its website. (Press release)

• NPD Group has found that 70% of tweens (ages 9 to 14) are downloading music: 49% use iTunes, 26% use LimeWire and 16% use MySpace. (Press rele

There are a couple of ways to look at EMI's deal with the Daily News that will offer free downloads from the News' website to purchasers of the print version.

This deal marks the beginning of a new EMI and a fresh approach to generating revenue from its catalog. This one deal isn't going to change the company's fortunes, but it is important for symbolic reasons.

With all this Qtrax nonsense going on lately, the one part of commentary lacking has been about the actual product. Judging from my brief exploration on an obviously hamstrung service -- no streaming, no downloading, slow as heck -- I not convinced Qtrax will turn into a major player (assuming it actually gets off the ground). It seems to be too ugly (Nigel Tufnel would comment with "none more black") and too geeky (the Songbird platform) for the mainstream. Screenshots after the jump.