By Michael Torrice
For people who, like myself, are interested in hearing new music
of many genres, MP3.com is the perfect site to find music from well-known
artists to the local garage band. The MP3.com system is easy. Bands
sign-up with MP3.com, for free, and allow the site to distribute their
mp3's to the public. Along with the actual music, bands can set-up
mini-web pages to inform their fans about their members, upcoming
shows, and other information. MP3.com will also market a band's CD
for them on the site.
On the consumer side of MP3.com, listeners are given the opportunity
to listen to mp3's from a wide range of artists. A look at the top
40 mp3's shows mainstream songs like Madonna's "Music" next
to songs like the cult favorite "The Invasion of the Gabber Robots"
by The Laziest Men on Mars. Most of the songs made available on MP3.com
are singles from the bands' albums. If a listener enjoys what they
hear the artist's web-page directs them to how they can purchase the
band's CD. Along with allowing users to determine which CDs they want
to buy, the site also allows users to play their favorite mp3's using
their browser plug-ins. My.MP3.com allows the listener to set-up a
play list of songs they have found on the site. This portion of MP3.com
also allows users to subscribe to channels for a monthly fee, allowing
them access to a wider range of music devoted to specific themes.
These channels serve as a forum to discuss the music available on
the site. Many other features on the site allow users to customize
their mp3 experience.
Of course, no discussion of MP3.com would be complete without comparing
its actions to those of Napster. What MP3.com shows the music industry
and Internet community is that mp3 distribution can be done in a manner
that is beneficial to consumer and producer. Instead of taking away
the artist's control over distribution of their music, MP3.com is
a partner in the artist's distribution plan. That is the artist gets
full control of what music is sent out to the public. Many supporters
of Napster point to the ability of mp3's to draw listeners to a new
band or even to a new album by an established artist as a defense
of stealing intellectual property. But what MP3.com shows is that
mp3's can draw people to artists without infringing on their rights.
Without theft of any kind, MP3.com allows artists to distribute their
music, inform their consumers about tour dates and upcoming releases,
and make a personal connection with fans. Bands that are trying to
break into mainstream music have an outlet to an audience that is
eager to hear new music that they can not find on top 40 radio. In
effect, MP3.com has set up a community which allows musician and listener
to meet and share in the experience of music. This is all done voluntarily
and in a way that benefits all involved. Isn't that what free trade
is all about? The recording industry and Napster users alike hopefully
will look to sites like MP3.com as a way to compromise between piracy
and the old style of music distribution in favor of true music sharing.