EMI Launches Advertising-Supported P2P Service

SirClicksalot writes to tell us that EMI is launching the first ad-supported peer-to-peer music downloading service called Qtrax. With Qtrax users will have two tiers of membership available to them, which EMI hopes will draw in a large segment of users to try it out and graduate many of them to stay on with a monthly fee or purchase music permanently. From the article "In the ad-supported, free tier, users will be able to search the network for specific tracks, and those tracks registered with Qtrax will be made available for download in Qtrax's proprietary ".mpq" file format. Users will then be able to play the downloaded .mpq file in full-fidelity sound quality for a pre-defined number of times. Each time a consumer plays a track, the Qtrax player will also offer fans click-to-buy purchase options, as well as the opportunity to upgrade to a premium subscription service for a flat monthly fee."

bad format, try again

[Anonymous Coward]

This sounded fine, until I read the fatal words: Qtrax's proprietary ".mpq" file format

Yeah, Cool.

[Vo0k]

I like the idea. I will likely subscribe. As soon as I put my hands on .mpq to .mp3 converter.

nice system!

[tehwebguy]

wow this sounds like the only p2p system more annoying than kazaa!

Finally!

[Zaphod-AVA]

Finally we have a service that combines the advertisements we love with the digital rights management software that keeps our music safely encoded! Bonus feature: we get to enjoy the advertisements all over again when our favorite song expires!

-Z

RadioShack sells them...

[Docness]

You can buy a universal audio format converter [radioshack.com] for $5 at RadioShack. Apparently a loophole in the DMCA allows the sale of this product.

Re:iTunes FairPlay Vs Qtrax DRM

[babbling]

It was one hell of a lot easier to simply download the music, why do I feel punished for trying to do the 'right' thing.

Don't worry about it too much. The important thing is that you learned your lesson.