Free music downloads really are here to stay. That’s the good news. What is the bad news? There is none. The really, really good news is that free music downloads now have a legal basis and are starting to become accepted by big businesses.
Sony’s recent deal with Peter Gabriel’s fledgling Internet outfit We7 to offer all the publisher giant’s back catalogue for free streaming from its website is a shock to all those involved in the industry. A shock perhaps, but absolutely grade A fantastic news to anyone who ever wanted to partake in free music downloads.
The deal comes at the same time as other industry players begin to seek out partnerships that will bring them into the world of free music downloads – the realization that this is a real industry with a real future has clearly hit home. Finally. – recent movements by Napster and O2, Napster and Vodafone, 24-7 Entertainment and an unknown Nordic provider all point to free music downloads being available on a number of mobile platforms very soon indeed.