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SpiralFrog ad-based music downloads – an iPod-free zone

By Stevie Smith Sep 18, 2007, 13:27 GMT

With current sentiment towards Apple not exactly warm and fuzzy considering its recently introduced iPod-to-iTunes usage lock, a new music download service called SpiralFrog, which is backed by the Universal Music Group, is set to launch online offering all of its content completely free of charge.Of course, that isn’t strictly true – depending on your viewpoint – because while SpiralFrog.com’s portfolio of musical content is indeed available without charge, its users will be required to tolerate 90-second download times for every desired track while also having to fill in monthly questionnaires regarding usage and buying habits.New York-based SpiralFrog is to carve its revenue via the inclusion of online banners and other live advertising – none of which will affect the playback of the site’s music. This ad-based revenue is then to be shared between the contributing record labels and specific music publishers, which will take some 50 percent of the site’s total turnover. Current advertisers secured by SpiralFrog include the likes of carmaker Chevrolet and also the US Army."It's great that the industry is experimenting and still trying to figure things out," commented Jupiter Research analyst David Card in a report by the LATimes. "I do think someone is going to figure out how to do ad-supported music on the Internet."With subscription services launched by the likes of Yahoo Inc. and RealNetworks having failed to find traction, SpiralFrog exists as a new attempt by music publishers to forge a system allowing for permanent music downloads that falls outside the restrictive blueprint laid down by the likes of Apple’s iPod player and iTunes Store.And, interestingly, content taken through the SpiralFrog Web site will not be compatible with Apple’s iPod players – no surprise to recent third-generation iPod consumers – with the service instead running on all Windows-compatible media players and mobile phone handsets. Beyond the lack of iPod compatibility, another detraction means that users will also be blocked when it comes to burning content down to compact discs. Having already taken a number of years to get off the ground, and with more than $10 million USD used during its creation, SpiralFrog still needs to entice the other three major music publishers if it wants to seriously challenge the likes of iTunes. While Universal’s market clout is considerable, having Sony BMG, EMI Group, and Warner Music on board would perhaps provide much more stability for SpiralFrog’s presently uncertain future.

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tommy two centsSep 18th, 2007 - 14:34:39

Not compatible with iPod? Unable to burn to CD? I doubt it. I've been through this with 'protected' audio files before. There are plenty of audio file conversion programs out there that'll turn anything into an MP3 and magically it works with everything.

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Build ItSep 18th, 2007 - 19:01:18

I don't agree that building an island will curb bird pollution.

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Liz KSep 18th, 2007 - 19:07:48

Well if it's an iPod-free zone (strike 1) and a Mac-free zone (strike 2) and the thing doesn't produce music one can burn to a CD and import to one's other machinery -- cellphone, laptop, etc-- as mp3 files or AAC files or whatever (strike three: yer out!) then why on earth would one elect to download anything from the site to begin with? I shall stick to iTunes for my digital purchases and Amazon or Arkiv for CDs, thank you.

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from the basement of the science buildingSep 19th, 2007 - 07:02:29

SpiralFrog is also a Zune free zone: from their FAQ:

Q: Are files downloaded from SpiralFrog compatible with the iPod or Zune?

A: Songs and video files that you download from SpiralFrog are not compatible with Apple’s range of iPods or Microsoft’s Zune.

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WhatTheHellDoesItunesHaveToDoWithItSep 19th, 2007 - 16:14:43

I would like for once for people who write for publications who obviously don't have a clue, STOP TRYING TO LINK EVERYTHING TO APPLE!!!. You didn't state the facts about the Zune did you? You also didn't state the facts that you can download DRM free music from iTunes. This service is simply a WantaBe and will fail given enough time. You guys need to go out more and get a life.

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