Long held plans by Virgin Media UK and Universal Music to launch a DRM-free "unlimited" music download and streaming service for broadband customers could have hit yet another wall. Reports indicate that the crucially important 'unlimited downloads' tier might have been dropped, leaving only a Spotify style streaming option to carry their unlimited slogan.
Concerns about the service are nothing new, with both EMI and Sony Music having been the most recent labels to air their fears (September news). Now news from The Register appears to confirm the music industry's complete inability to provide an effective legal alternative to the more accessible illegal P2P file sharing method.
The report states that Virgin Media's new top-tier package, which should cost about £15 per month, has been forced to replace its "unlimited downloads" option with a monthly limit of 40 music file/track downloads. Virgin itself states that they are still working towards the original goal and its final package details could still change.
Virgin Media had originally intended to launch a fully P2P based unlimited music service, although some of the big music labels managed to scupper that idea too. So while Rights Holders have got everybody that counts in political circles to blame the ISPs, they themselves continue to fail consumers by withholding the kind of service that is so desperately demanded.
Next week’s Queens Speech is expected to include an outline of new enforcement measures against broadband ISP subscribers who repeatedly download illegal music files. We will be keeping an ear out to see if the downright evil disconnection policy gets a mention.
UPDATE - 10th October 2009:
Industry sources have suggested to us that the reason why VM appears to have dropped its unlimited option is perhaps related to the fact that Rights Holders wanted them to block P2P access for people not subscribed to any of the packages.
UPDATE - 12th October 2009:
Here's the official line from Virgin Media:
Concerns about the service are nothing new, with both EMI and Sony Music having been the most recent labels to air their fears (September news). Now news from The Register appears to confirm the music industry's complete inability to provide an effective legal alternative to the more accessible illegal P2P file sharing method.
The report states that Virgin Media's new top-tier package, which should cost about £15 per month, has been forced to replace its "unlimited downloads" option with a monthly limit of 40 music file/track downloads. Virgin itself states that they are still working towards the original goal and its final package details could still change.
Virgin Media had originally intended to launch a fully P2P based unlimited music service, although some of the big music labels managed to scupper that idea too. So while Rights Holders have got everybody that counts in political circles to blame the ISPs, they themselves continue to fail consumers by withholding the kind of service that is so desperately demanded.
Next week’s Queens Speech is expected to include an outline of new enforcement measures against broadband ISP subscribers who repeatedly download illegal music files. We will be keeping an ear out to see if the downright evil disconnection policy gets a mention.
UPDATE - 10th October 2009:
Industry sources have suggested to us that the reason why VM appears to have dropped its unlimited option is perhaps related to the fact that Rights Holders wanted them to block P2P access for people not subscribed to any of the packages.
UPDATE - 12th October 2009:
Here's the official line from Virgin Media:
A Virgin Media spokesperson said:
"Virgin Media is forging new ground with our music service and we want to provide a truly compelling offering for both consumers and industry. We are making good progress in developing the service and in addition to the deal that we have signed with Universal Music, we are currently in talks with both major and independent labels to launch a comprehensive service."
"Virgin Media is forging new ground with our music service and we want to provide a truly compelling offering for both consumers and industry. We are making good progress in developing the service and in addition to the deal that we have signed with Universal Music, we are currently in talks with both major and independent labels to launch a comprehensive service."
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Comments: 4
Carrot63Posted: 9 October, 2009 - 9:52 PM
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You wouldn't want these people runnign anything that actually mattered, would you?
AbsentPosted: 10 October, 2009 - 12:54 PM
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I really don't see why the "music industry" has a problem with free/ad based or subscription streaming services. It's essentially the same business model they've been using in radio for decades.
It seems like if someone today invented a new fangled thing of free-to-air, unencrypted music radio broadcasts, there's no bleeding way the music industry would allow it.
"What? you want to play music to people and not charge them for it? And with no way of stopping them recording it on those evil cassette things? You're going to kill the music industry!"
SledgehammerPosted: 11 October, 2009 - 11:23 AM
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Rights Holders need a swift kick in the backside to bring them into the "REAL WORLD OF TODAY". Or go back in time and start selling all their music the way they used to "SHEET MUSIC". Then they would have no gripe with anyone.
As Absent said they will eventually have their industry die.
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