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== January 2008 Qtrax Launch Debacle == |
== January 2008 Qtrax Launch Debacle == |
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In January 2008<ref>{{cite web|url=http://qtrax.wordpress.com/2009/07/17/a-note-from-allan-klepfisz/ |title=A Note From Allan Klepfisz « Qtrax Music Experience |publisher=Qtrax.wordpress.com |date=2009-07-17 |accessdate=2010-06-01}}</ref> in [[Cannes]], at the music industry's global conference [[MIDEM]], the company announced the launch of its service in nine countries, with the company claiming to have obtained licenses to distribute the music of the big four music record labels: [[EMI]], [[SonyBMG]], [[Universal Music Group]] and [[Warner Music Group]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nypost.com/seven/06252007/business/file_haring_business_peter_lauria.htm|title=New York Post - FILE-$HARING}}</ref><ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite web|url=http://blog.wired.com/music/2008/01/major-labels-al.html|title=Wired - Major Labels Allow P2P Music Sharing on Qtrax}}</ref> The Qtraz CEO, Allan Klepfisz, noted that his company's web site was being accessed by 22,000 users per millisecond, which would have made it the busiest web site in the world, and 25 million songs were available.<ref>Guardian UK http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/jan/28/piracy.digitalmedia</ref><ref name="arstechnica.com">Ars Technica http://arstechnica.com/old/content/2008/02/qtrax-the-free-music-is-coming-trust-us.ars</ref><ref>MediaPost http://arstechnica.com/old/content/2008/02/qtrax-the-free-music-is-coming-trust-us.ars</ref> Lance Ford, Qtrax sales manager, announced that company's advertisers included [[Ford Motor Company]], H&M, [[Burger King]], and Boost Mobile.<ref>MediaPost http://www.mediapost.com/publications/index.cfm?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=75152</ref>. The multi-million dollar launch spectacle included concerts by [[LL Cool J]], [[Don Henley]] of the Eagles, and [[James Blunt]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nowpublic.com/entertainment/music-labels-say-theres-no-deal-qtrax |title=Music Labels Say There's no Deal With Qtrax | NowPublic News Coverage |publisher=Nowpublic.com |date=2008-01-29 |accessdate=2010-06-01}}</ref> In the days leading up to the announcement, the stock price of Qtrax's parent company, Brilliant Digital, reached a 52 week high.<ref name="articles.latimes.com"/> However, within days, it became clear to the media that all of the material claims made by the company were untrue. It did not have licenses with any of the four major record labels, its music would not play on Apple iPods,<ref name="news.bbc.co.uk"/> it did not have the advertising customers it claimed, nor was its software ready for launch.<ref>Techcrunch http://www.nowpublic.com/entertainment/music-labels-say-theres-no-deal-qtrax</ref><ref>Wired http://www.wired.com/listening_post/2008/01/qtrax-first-loo/</ref><ref>CNET http://news.cnet.com/8301-13526_3-9859255-27.html</ref> Analysts soon pointed out that their claim of 22,000 users per millisecond would mean that the company had over 79 billion users, more than the entire population of earth,<ref name="arstechnica.com"/> and that the supposed 25 million digital tracks available, around four times what Apple iTunes then offered,<ref>{{cite web|last=Bohon |first=Cory |url=http://www.tuaw.com/2008/05/04/4-million-itunes-songs-disappear-speculations-abound/ |title=4 million iTunes songs disappear, speculations abound |publisher=Tuaw.com |date=2008-04-05 |accessdate=2010-06-01}}</ref><ref>USA Todayhttp://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2008-03-25-sony-music-service_N.htm</ref> exceed the number of sound recordings that had ever been digitalized in the history of the world at that time.<ref>Gigacom http://gigaom.com/2008/01/28/qtrax-loses-tracks/</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/28/qtrax-goes-live-tracks-nowhere-to-be-found/ |title=Qtrax goes "live," tracks nowhere to be found |publisher=Engadget |date= |accessdate=2010-06-01}}</ref> |
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Qtrax executives were pressed to explain their announcement, which for a few days had been widely reported by a believing press. |
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"We are not idiots," said CEO Klepfisz. "We wouldn’t have launched the service in front of the whole music industry unless we had secured its backing. We feel we have been unfairly crucified because a competitor tried to damage us ... We do have industry agreements including the major labels. Even today we are working on more deals {although} the ink hadn't dried" on some of the deals, and that Qtrax still planned to deliver on its promises "within months.".<ref>Times Online UK http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article3264556.ece</ref> In an interview with [[The Guardian]], Robin Kent, explained that even though they did not have any of the licenses with the major record labels, Qtrax had the "blessing", of the record labels.<ref>The Guardian UK http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/jan/28/news.emi</ref> |
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{{Vquote|right|width=45%|"'''We are not idiots''' [...] We wouldn't have launched the service in front of the whole music industry unless we secured its backing."|Allan Klepfisz|"Times Online",January 2008}} |
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{{Vquote|right|width=45%|'''We had the ''blessing'' of the record labels'''.|Robin Kent|"Guardian UK",January 2008}} |
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In January 2008, the internet policing company, [[Web Sheriff]] notified Qtrax that regardless of whether the music companies supported the service, individual artists would have to give their approval.<ref name="spokesman web sheriff">{{cite web|url=http://www.spokesmanreview.com/blogs/txt/archive/?postID=3808#more|title=Not even out the door and already the Web Sheriff is after Qtrax|publisher=[[The Spokesman-Review]]|author=Sowa, Tom|date=2008-01-29|accessdate=2010-03-31}}</ref> It was also reported that many of the images on the Qtrax web site were unlicensed.<ref>CNET http://news.cnet.com/webware/?keyword=Qtrax</ref> |
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Qtrax offered songs which could be downloaded and played as often as the consumer wants as long as they are connected to the internet. However, although users can view the Qtrax library, the download option has been removed, and no information about this has been posted to indicate if it will become available again. |
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The files utilized [[Microsoft]]'s Windows Media [[digital rights management]] technology, restricting usage of files. Music downloaded from Qtrax could only be played within the Qtrax client and could not be transferred to a portable media device.<ref>Ars Technica http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2008/01/qtraxs-free-ad-based-p2p-gnutella-meets-zune-esque-drm.ars</ref> |
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The service was only offered to US residents for a brief beta period, but Qtrax has announced it will soon be offered in the [[Asia Pacific]] region.<ref>{{cite web| title = Qtrax Announces Asia Pacific Roll Out Schedule | url=http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS232154+28-Oct-2009+PRN20091028 | accessdate = 2009-11-03}}</ref> However, to date, they have yet to actually do so. |
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== Client == |
== Client == |
Revision as of 16:47, 29 June 2010
File:Qtrax.png | |
Developer(s) | LTDnetwork Inc.[1] |
---|---|
Stable release | 1.01
/ July 22, 2009 |
Operating system | Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista |
Type | Media player, Peer-to-peer Network |
Website | Qtrax - Homepage |
Qtrax is an advertiser-supported free music download service based in New York.[2] The company is best known for its spectacular failed launch in January 2008, which is one of the highest profile failed launches ever on the internet, and the extraordinary false claims made by public company, which were initially reported as true by believing media.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][2][10][11][12][13]
The service, as announced, was to be purely advertising supported and there are no registration fees or download fees.[14][15] Qtrax management team and advisory team has included CEO Allan Klepfisz,[16] co-President and Chief Strategy Officer[17] Robin Kent,[18] Lance Ford,[19] and former RIAA Chairman Jay Berman.[20] On May 27. 2010, it was announced that Robin Kent was leaving the company.[21][22]
The company has missed all its announced North American launch dates.[19] Nobody knows when the full Qtrax service will actually start, although a tentitive launch date was set sometime in January 2010, which the company also missed.[23]
January 2008 Qtrax Launch Debacle
Client
The Qtrax client is based on Songbird, a GPL combination of a media player and a web browser. Songbird itself is based on components from the Mozilla project.[24]
Contracts
As of March 20, 2009, the following is a list of the currently signed contracts:
- EMI Music Publishing[15]
- finetunes[25]
- Sony/ATV Music Publishing[26]
- TVT Records[27]
- Warner Music Group [28]
- EMI Music North America[29]
- Sony BMG Music Entertainment [30]
On Tuesday 6 May 2008, UMG (Universal Music Group), the largest of the record labels, signed a deal with Qtrax.[31] Qtrax has stated that the entire catalogue of songs from artists under the Universal label will be available on Qtrax.[32]
November 2, 2009, Qtrax and Baidu ,the leading Chinese search engine announce a stategic partnership where Baidu will send music related querries to qtrax from its entertainment portal and its qian qian music site (source P.R. Newswire)
Criticism
On March 18, 2008, Italian digital music website MusicBlob[33] found that apparently several CD compilations of the Ultra Rare Trax series, a pirate CD series circulated on CD during the 1990s and dedicated to artists such as KLF, Kraftwerk, Duran Duran and others, are listed in the Qtrax catalogue as if they were legitimate release.
The reaction of users has been largely critical[citation needed] due to the website gaining advertising revenue, but only offering minimal services. It has been reported on the James Kilgour Blog, that Qtrax is currently being sued by Oracle USA, in a lawsuit filled in California on the 21st.[34]
Global release
On October 12, Qtrax announced dates for its rollout in nine countries in the Asia Pacific:
- Australia & New Zealand - November 5, 2009[35]
- Singapore - November 12, 2009
- Malaysia - November 19, 2009
- Philippines - November 26, 2009
- Indonesia - December 3, 2009
- Hong Kong - December 10, 2009
- China - December 17, 2009
- Taiwan - December 24, 2009
However, all of those launch dates for the Asia Pacific went unexecuted. A new launch date was set for January 2010, but unfortunately it was not executed.[23] The site is back up (after being down a few days), with promises of launching soon in Australia.
The Australia launch has been a bust so far, with a launch date of February 10, 2010, so far no sign of a launch. The site now says that Qtrax is coming to Singapore[36] Qtrax claims they are handing out activation keys, but there is no proof that anyone in the world has received one. They failed to launch in February, and now just failed to launch in March.
They have (as of at least April 3, 2010) started handing out activation keys to select Beta testers, who registered their email address on the site when they launched. They are now claiming, as to their splash page, that version 2.0 is available for download in 5 different countries. It is yet to be seen whether this is factual or not. Qtrax now available for downloading free legal music in Australia,New Zealand,malaysia and Singapore,more countries will be added soon.ref. www.qtrax.com/support
See also
References
- ^ "Qtrax - Legal Disclaimer".
- ^ a b http://techcrunch.com/2008/01/27/free-legal-p2p-music-downloads-told-you-so/
- ^ Los Angeles Times http://articles.latimes.com/2008/jan/29/business/fi-qtrax29/2
- ^ http://www.nevillehobson.com/2008/01/29/qtrax-more-than-just-a-pr-disaster/
- ^ http://www.businessinsider.com/2008/6/qtrax-finally-up-and-running-june-18th
- ^ The Register UK http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01/27/midem_qtrax_launch/
- ^ http://www.podcastingnews.com/2008/01/28/qtrax-vaporware/
- ^ http://www.zdnet.co.uk/blogs/mixed-signals-10000051/of-qtrax-and-broken-dreams-10007187/
- ^ BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7213112.stm
- ^ http://www.crunchbase.com/company/qtrax
- ^ http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/06/18/qtrax-launches-free-legal-and-limited-p2p-music-app/
- ^ [1]
- ^ Digital Media Newswire http://www.dmwmedia.com/news/2010/05/27/former-spiralfrog-ceo-robin-kent-leaving-qtrax
- ^ Levine, Robert. "New Model for Sharing: Free Music With Ads", The New York Times, April 23, 2007. Retrieved January 29, 2008.
- ^ a b EMI Music becomes the first major music company to make its catalogue available to Qtrax: the world's first ad-supported, legitimate P2P service
- ^ [2][dead link]
- ^ http://www.mahalo.com/qtrax
- ^ "Qtrax Relaunches In The U.S". Billboard.biz. Retrieved 2010-06-01.
- ^ a b Financial Times http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/51c0de26-cd72-11de-8162-00144feabdc0.html?SID=google
- ^ NET http://news.cnet.com/8301-31001_3-10395016-261.html
- ^ Billboard http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/e3ia131dd6e9ec7a47ae835fcc99165a010
- ^ CNET http://news.cnet.com/media-maverick/?keyword=Qtrax
- ^ a b Peoples, Glenn. "Business Matters: Digital Economy Bill, Bandcamp, Qtrax", Billboards.biz, December 28, 2009. Retrieved January 2, 2010.
- ^ "Songbirdnest.com - Songbird Media Player". Retrieved 2008-01-28.
- ^ Euroinvestor http://www.euroinvestor.co.uk/news/story.aspx?id=9765135
- ^ Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/04/qtrax-says-it-now-has-deals-with-major-labels-doesnt-actually/
- ^ Qtrax Has Active Deal with TVT Records | Listening Post from Wired.com
- ^ Warner Music Group and Qtrax Sign a Digital Licensing Agreement
- ^ Billboard June 2008 http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/e3i51cfa2a984208f3053d12c36bed491d2
- ^ Wired December 2008 http://www.wired.com/listening_post/2008/12/qtrax-signs-thi/
- ^ "Free legal downloads promised by Universal rights deal". The Times. London. May 8, 2008. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
- ^ UMG confirms deal with Qtrax to allow free music downloads|ABC 33/40 News
- ^ "MusicBlob - Hey, there's pirate music in my Qtrax!". Retrieved 2008-03-18.
- ^ "Qtrax Sued by Oracel - The James Kilgour Blog". Retrieved 2010-02-09.
- ^ "Qtrax Announces Asia Pacific Roll Out Schedule - NEW YORK, Oct. 28 /PRNewswire/". New York: Prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2010-06-01.
- ^ http://www.qtrax.com
- TechCrunch - Free legal P2P Music Downloads
- Another online music service steps into the on-deck circle
- Mashable - Qtrax To Finally Launch
- mp3.com - Qtrax goes legit with EMI deal