- Deezer
-
Deezer 
URL www.deezer.com Commercial? Yes Type of site Music, Search, & Community Registration Optional Available language(s) Multi-lingual Owner Blogmusik SAS Launched August 22, 2007 Alexa rank 
1,570 (November 2011[update])[1]Current status Active Deezer is a free music streaming service based in Paris, France. Deezer was launched on August 24, 2007. Deezer has negotiated rights to make 165,000 songs available for streaming legally via an agreement with Sony, as well as some of Universal's catalog. After its launch, there were legal issues relating to the uploading and sharing of music on Deezer, but this was resolved when Deezer updated its site on 9 February 2009.[2]
Deezer was the first music site based in France to sign an agreement with a publisher rights' organisation to reimburse artists through advertising revenue.[2]
There are four million registered Deezer users according to the home page of the website.[3] In September 2011, Deezer stated that there were 13 million songs available on their service.[4]
Contents
History
The site, owned by the company Blogmusik, led by Daniel Marhely and Jonathan Benassaya, was formerly called BlogMusik, but was closed voluntarily in February 2007 by its creators, under increasing pressure from the SACEM on grounds of violation of author's rights. When the site reopened it changed its name to Deezer.[5]
Deezer is the first French site to find a legal agreement with a copyright management company, in this case with SACEM. Advertising revenues pay the artists and all beneficiaries.[6]
In May 2008, Universal Records agreed to release a large portion of its catalog through the site.[7]
On Thursday 23 October 2008, Deezer launched a free application for the iPhone and iPod Touch. It allows the user to listen to Deezer Webradios and Smartradios, but requires an internet connection.[8]
Until 10 December 2008, any members could upload their own mp3s to the site and make them available to everyone through their playlists. This feature was restricted so that any "personal MP3s uploaded to the site can only be accessed by the member who uploaded it".[9]
On 9 February 2009, the site was updated with changes to the interface and availability of the content on the site. The update restricted access to the catalogue and listening to the music to registered users and restricted content based on the location of the user. [10]
On Thursday 19 February 2009, Deezer announced that it would launch an application, similar to that for the iPhone, to access the site via a Blackberry. It was scheduled to be released on 30 March 2009 and will only allow access to the webradios and smartradios, whereas a regular fee paying application is available to access playlists.[11]
On August 2009, Deezer restricted access to all content.
On 15 September 2009, Deezer launched an app for the new Archos 5 Android Tablet.
Deezer have released their third version of the site, which is now compulsory for all members.
December 2009, Deezer added monthly fees to its service.
In June 2011 Deezer started to limit free users to 5 hours of music streaming per month. This change occurred a few weeks after Spotify limited its users to 10 hours per month. Moreover, Deezer doesn't allow a unique song to be played more than 5 times. Pascal Nègre, CEO of Universal Music France had criticized lack of such limitation. Users also complained after these changes.
In September 2011, it was announced that Deezer has partnered with communications provider Orange in the UK in order to strengthen its competitiveness against Spotify. [12]
After a brief country block from the UK, Deezer re-opened the site to England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in September 2011, but unless premium subscriptions were made, free listeners could only hear 30 second previews. Deezer introduces Premium and Premium+ accounts to their subscriptions.
Features
There are many features of the current site which includes the ability to create blind tests, in which one or more songs is played and questions asked about them, and send them to friends on the site. Users can also create a blog page where they can present themselves, copy or share playlists with other members or add other members to their friend list. Also, a mail feature is available to members, allowing them to talk with other members and a music news feature, also available to non-members, which displays recent music news.
See also
- Grooveshark
- ShareTheMusic
- Guvera
References
- ^ "Deezer.com - Traffic Details from Alexa". Alexa Internet, Inc. http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/deezer.com. Retrieved 2011-05-08.
- ^ a b "legality of Deezer". http://french-law.org/universal-music-challenges-the-legality-of-deezer-a-free-streaming-website.html.
- ^ www.deezer.com
- ^ "Deezer signe avec le label Discograph". http://www.deezer.com/blog/fr/news/deezer-signe-avec-le-label-discograph.html. Retrieved 2010-04-26.
- ^ http://www.infos-du-net.com/actualite/11519-Deezer-BlogMusik-musique.html
- ^ Information from the Deezer site
- ^ "Universal Onboard With France's Deezer". http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/e3i5a3f46d9d85bdabbf8260a4e780e985e. Retrieved 2008-09-07.
- ^ http://www.deezer.com/blog/fr/index.php/post/DEEZER-ENFIN-SUR-IPHONE-ET-IPOD-TOUCH Communiqué du 23 octobre 2008
- ^ http://www.deezer.com/blog/fr/index.php/post/Blocage-du-partage-des-MP3-%3A-NON-Deezer-nest-pas-responsable Sujet "MP3 uploadés" [Blog Deezer]
- ^ http://www.pcinpact.com/actu/news/49020-deezer-titres-grises-musique-hadopi.htm?vc=1&p=2#vc Article PC INpact "Deezer s'explique sur les restrictions d'accès territoriales" 10/02/09
- ^ http://www.deezer.com/blog/fr/index.php/post/DEEZER-PREMIER-SERVICE-MUSCIAL-DISPONIBLE-SUR-BLACKBERRY [Blog Deezer]
- ^ http://www.investoo.co.uk/deezer-teams-up-with-orange-to-take-on-spotify-in-uk/
External links
Categories:- IOS software
- Internet properties established in 2007
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
