OK – I will admit up front that this entry is a stretch for an EdTech web site. So, if you are in a hurry, move on to something more relevant.
Music downloads, online music, pirated music, etc. have been a prominent topic for those with general technology or Internet interests. I have an interest in this topic on several levels – I purchase music online for immediate download in digital form, the topic of copyright is relevant to my professionl work, and I am interested in alternative models for the distribution and support of commercial products (open source models).
Magnatune has launched a new venture that takes a different approach to the distribution of music in digital form. While the approach to generating revenue is unusual, this is a company that assumes it will be profitable. You can listen to the music they make available online and download the music if you wish. The funding model is close to shareware — it appears as a user you make the decision to pay. What the artists receive is a much higher cut of the profits than would be the case through the major labels. The open questions is whether this will translate into a higher proportion of very few actual sales or whether enough people will support this less expensive approach and provide a reasonable level of income for the participants.
