Re: UKNM: Liquid Audio

[D.Dias]

>

From: Aidan Cook <aidansensei [dot] co [dot] uk>

>

> Liquid Audio - opinions please (we have one, but we'd like yours too).

> Indeed, in light of Napster/MP3.com/blah-de-blah, any thoughts on music

> online would be welcome...as its Friday, please limit your responses to

> 3000 words or less ;)

>


Morning Aidan


We have a Liquid Audio account and have had one for over a year.

We've not really added much content for quite a while

mainly due to the fact we are developing a proprietary

DRM system based on Windows Media Technologies...


Anyway, their 'bureau' system [they no longer sell the software] seems to

work very well and I can recommend it those whose DRM requirements are

modest. eg. you don't feel to need to invest in the [massive] infrastructure

and bandwidth that something like this requires, as well as the whole

payment gateway, customer service nightmare. Liquid Audio take 21% of gross

revenues to handle all of this for you.


Particularly impressive is the [I've not actually verified that this works]

audio watermarking which apparently survives even if you transfer a piece

of music to an analogue format. eg. Someone downloads a piece of

music their cc details/address/email or whatever is magically and inaudibly

encrypted into the digital file. The idea being that if someone burns

the track to CD and distributes it you, can trace it back to the person who

originally downloaded it. So yes, far more secure than MP3, and better

audio quality if you choose the right codec...


For an example of how we use it see:

http://www.breakbeat.co.uk/digitaldownloads/digitaldownloads.html


We use it primarily as a promotional tool:  when someone

listens to a streaming preview they can either link through to

the artist/label website, buy a digital download or link through

to our e-commerce partner to purchase the album.


Personally I remain to be convinced by the whole digital music/convergence

thing - in our particular niche, the market will be dominated by vinyl

sale for quite a few years to come if our research is anything to go by.


As far as music online is concerned, I believe that streaming media/live

webcasts are where it's at, provided the rights collection agencies can get

their act(s) together.


Hope this helps.


D.


Executive Producer

Drum & Bass Arena

http://www.breakbeat.co.uk


---------------------------------------

Art Empire Industries Ltd

http://www.artempireindustries.com


t: +44 (0) 114 2814470 f: +44 (0) 114 2816001

e:

ddiasartempireindustries [dot] com (mailto:ddiasartempireindustries [dot] com)

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