Hamish Mackintosh
Millions of people are now using the Internet as a source of free music, and the major record companies don’t like it. The problem is that there’s no way of controlling what amounts to a global distribution network, so hardly anyone is paying for the music files they’re downloading. It’s copyright theft on a grand scale.
The problem has been created by computers, and the music business hopes computer companies will solve it. Last week, both IBM and Microsoft announced systems that can provide copyright protection, but that doesn’t guarantee anyone will use them. They will have to offer extra benefits as well.
Using free MP3 audio software anyone can convert a song from a CD into a computer file and post it on the Net; anyone can download the file and play it (see ). MP3 files have become so common that companies have started to sell gizmos like Diamond Multimedia’s Rio MPMan player, the digital equivalent of a Sony Walkman.
This leap from geekdom to major growth industry is causing sleepless nights in the record industry. And most of the major record companies are frantically seeking measures to stop this threat to the status quo.
Ironically, while bodies such as the Recording Industry Association of America are lobbying for legislation against websites that carry “illegal” MP3s, many bands and artists are involved with the movement. Talents as diverse as David Bowie and the Beastie Boys are supporters, and American rappers Public Enemy recently parted company with their record company when it withdrew MP3 files of unreleased material they’d posted for their fans to download.
MP3 may well prove to be unstoppable, and some record companies are coming round to the idea of releasing MP3 files to promote new albums and artists. Others are beginning to realise that with the Internet eliminating almost all the manufacturing, shipping and retailing costs involved in music distribution, small charges for file downloads could lead to huge profits, if only there were some way of controlling the tsunami of online music.
IBM’s Madison Project – part of the Secure Digital Music Initiative backed by BMG, EMI, Sony Music, Universal Music and Warner Music – and Microsoft’s Media Technologies 4.0 are the latest attempts.
IBM is using unidentified compression techniques with its electronic music management system (EMMS)so consumers can download files at high speed – up to 60 minutes of music in less than 10 minutes, but that’s using a high-speed cable modem. A six- month trial with 1 000 cable TV users in San Diego, California, is planned.
Last week, IBM also announced an agreement with RealNetworks, which provides the Real G- 2 software most used for “streaming audio” (where the file is played as it is downloaded), for the use of IBM’s EMMS. Then Real bought Xing, the most successful supplier of MP3 software.
Microsoft also launched a beta test version of Media Technologies 4.0, which supports a wide range of audio compression techniques. The Audio 4.0 format can produce music files that sound significantly better than today’s systems, or similar quality sounds with files that are half the size.
The file format includes features to protect intellectual property rights, and Microsoft was able to announce more than 60 backers at last week’s launch. The software can be downloaded from .
Microsoft also showed a prototype Casio player that will work with Audio 4.0 files. The player, which uses Microsoft’s Windows CE operating system, will hold four hours of music.
The next few months promise to be both exciting and crucial to the world of online music distribution. Whether MP3 will continue to flourish or be usurped by commerce or the march of progress remains to be seen, and heard.