Wow, talk about music news this week. Muxtape got its wrist slapped by the RIAA...
...but there are new music start ups to pick up where Muxtape left off (if it's in fact dead, and not a publicity stunt).
Some new arrivals on the scene are 8Tracks, Grooveshark Lite and Simplify Media. I've covered other cool music sites in the past here as well.
Music startups are not for the faint of heart or the shallow-pocketed. Spiral Frog has spent $12 Million and hasn't even launched. They were reported to be looking for a further $25 Million. And that's pre-launch.
8Tracks has spent about $80k to get the service to where it is today, but has a special license that they're using currently.
I've been watching several guys here in Europe, but see real business model challenges to ad based music services given the royalty rates that the majors are looking for. Silicon Alley Insider has a good overview of why the current licensing model is broken. They calculate 1 ad per song to break even, we've run some numbers and they look higher than that to us- which means if it doesn't work at 1 ad per song, then things just go downhill from there,
Add in the fact that WalMart is pulling/reducing its music inventory, which can't be a good thing for the Labels either... all of which leaves me scratching my head as to where these guys plan on making money (Not online and not in store- that doesn't leave many options.)
So what's next, who's going to start the Music Revolution (or has it already quietly begun)?
(thnx to datsuncog for the tape pic)
Are you smoking something? Spiral Frog's been launched for a year, dude.
Posted by: David Douglas | August 21, 2008 at 04:37 AM
Do you mean the Windows only pre-launch that doesn't work on an iPod (70%+ of the market) or the Zune (10%)... that's a public alpha, not a launch.
Posted by: Jason Ball | August 21, 2008 at 12:01 PM
the idea of monetizing on music, either through sales or ad supported is pretty much over in our opinion. we believe artists will have to give a large portion of their catalogues away for free so as to be able to monetize on a few premium tracks and attract enough attention to be able to earn on performances and merchandise.
Posted by: Sash | August 25, 2008 at 07:52 AM
The Music Revolution - Mybandstock.com. It exists, it's real, and it's happening.
A little about MBS...
MyBandStock is an interactive web community dedicated to independent musicians and loyal patrons of music that allows fans the opportunity to buy stock in a band. This stock is not an actual security, but a support-based purchase of goods and services that directly funds artists for financial projects. We circumvent the role of a record label and streamline the wasteful, bank-like nature of traditional record financing by allowing fans to support their favorite artists. Currently, our site hosts a group of handpicked artists and is open to all fans, creating an environment that heightens musician and fan interaction.
Posted by: Drew Mybandstock | January 26, 2009 at 02:34 AM