Qtrax

Infobox Software
name = Qtrax

developer = LTDnetwork Inc. [cite web|url=http://qtrax.com/US/legal.html|title=Qtrax - Legal Disclaimer]
operating_system = Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista (Mac OS X beta release "Coming Soon" after several delays) [cite web|url=http://qtrax.com/download.html|title=Qtrax - Download Page]
latest release version = 0.3 Beta
latest release date = June 18, 2008
genre = Media player, Peer-to-peer Network
website = [http://qtrax.com/ Qtrax - Homepage]

Qtrax is an advertiser-supported free and legal P2P music download service based in New York. The service is 100% advertising supported and there are no registration fees or download fees.Levine, Robert. [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/23/technology/23qtrax.html?_r=1&scp=3&sq=qtrax&st=nyt&oref=slogin "New Model for Sharing: Free Music With Ads"] , "The New York Times", April 23, 2007. Accessed January 29, 2008.]

Description

The service was announced at the 2008 Midem conference, with the company claiming to have the support of the music industry especially the big four music companies: EMI, SonyBMG, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group. [cite web|url=http://www.nypost.com/seven/06252007/business/file_haring_business_peter_lauria.htm|title=New York Post - FILE-$HARING] cite web|url=http://blog.wired.com/music/2008/01/major-labels-al.html|title=Wired - Major Labels Allow P2P Music Sharing on Qtrax] However, all four companies had stated that no deals had been inked at the time, although some earlier deals were still in existence with some of the major labels and publishers. Since Midem deals have been made and announced with EMI and Universal Music Group for the music rights and EMI, Warner Chappell, Sony/ATV and UMG/BMG for publishing.

Qtrax currently has over 800,000 songs which can be downloaded and played as often as the consumer wants as long as they are connected to the internet.

In late February 2008, some songs became available to download on Qtrax. The songs are all by bands who belong to TVT Records, such as Sevendust, Ying Yang Twins and New Year's Day .

On June 18, 2008, Qtrax offered its first downloads from Universal Music Group and EMI and since then they have been adding music daily from Universal Music Group, EMI, and Warner record labels. Downloads are currently only available in the US but other countries are expected to be available soon.

The files have Microsoft's Windows Media digital rights management technology applied, restricting usage of files. Music downloaded from Qtrax can only be played within the Qtrax client and cannot be transferred to a portable media device.

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.cite web| title = Songbirdnest.com - Songbird Media Player| url=http://www.songbirdnest.com/| accessdate = 2008-01-28] A version for Mac OS X was scheduled to be released on May 18, 2008. However, the Mac OS X version remains unreleased and the Qtrax beta download page no longer mentions a specific release date.

Contracts

As of March 12, 2008, Qtrax began to sign contracts with some major record companies. The following is a list of the currently signed contracts:
*EMI Music Publishing [http://www.emigroup.com/Press/2006/press25.htm EMI Music becomes the first major music company to make its catalogue available to Qtrax: the world's first ad-supported, legitimate P2P service ] ]
*finetunesFact|date=June 2008
*Sony/ATV Music PublishingFact|date=June 2008
*TVT Records [ [http://blog.wired.com/music/2008/02/qtrax-has-activ.html Qtrax Has Active Deal with TVT Records | Listening Post from Wired.com ] ]

On Tuesday 6 May 2008, UMG (Universal Music Group), the largest of the record labels, signed a deal with Qtrax. [ [http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/media/article3889366.ece Free legal downloads promised by Universal rights deal - Times Online ] ] Qtrax has stated that the entire catalogue of songs from artists under the Universal label will be available on Qtrax. [ [http://www.abc3340.com/news/stories/0508/517468.html UMG confirms deal with Qtrax to allow free music downloads|ABC 33/40 News ] ]

Criticism

Qtrax also claims to have 25 million copyright songs available for free legal download, even though just over 6 million are believed to have ever been digitized. [cite web| url=http://www.paidcontent.org/entry/419-music-biz-pushes-piracy-blame-to-isps-digital-sales-up-40-percent|title=Music Biz Pushes Piracy Blame To ISPs; Digital Sales Up 40 Percent]

On March 18, 2008, Italian digital music website MusicBlobcite web| title = MusicBlob - Hey, there's pirate music in my Qtrax! | url=http://www.musicblob.it/hey-theres-pirate-music-in-my-qtrax-a-musicblob-exclusive.html | accessdate = 2008-03-18] 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 releases.

The reaction of users has been largely critical due to the website gaining advertising revenue, but only offering minimal services.

References

ources

* [http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/27/free-legal-p2p-music-downloads-told-you-so/ TechCrunch - Free legal P2P Music Downloads]
* [http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060613-7046.html Another online music service steps into the on-deck circle]
* [http://mashable.com/2008/01/26/qtrax-to-finally-launch-no-love-for-ipod-lovers/ Mashable - Qtrax To Finally Launch]
* [http://www.mp3.com/news/stories/4813.html mp3.com - Qtrax goes legit with EMI deal]

ee also

* SpiralFrog
* imeem
* Ruckus Network

External links

* [http://qtrax.com/ Qtrax website]