And even more P2P, though of the legal kind this time. Well, sort of. Following that previously reported announcement by QTRAX at MIDEM this weekend that they were about to launch a fully licensed ad-funded P2P service providing access to 30 million tracks, there was formal confirmation from three of the majors yesterday that they are actually yet to reach a deal with the P2P firm.
As previously reported, QTRAX is one of those formerly illegal P2P outfits which is trying to launch a legal P2P service, funded by advertising and licenced by the record companies. There has been much talk about such legit P2P networks in recent years, but no one has really launched one yet.
QTRAX's announcement that it was to launch its legit P2P operation this week with major and indie label support suggested they would be the first legit file sharer to properly come to market, but yesterday's announcements from EMI, Universal and Warner have thrown much doubt on that claim, though all three majors admit negotiations are ongoing with the P2P firm, so a fully licenced QTRAX isn't a complete impossibility.
While QTRAX would make such a bold statement about its launch and content partners when key deals are not in place isn't clear. Billboard have been uncharacteristically critical of the company's launch, saying: "The inconsistencies with its music licensing status is just one of several missteps that may make QTRAX one of most bungled service launches in the history of digital music". It adds that the QTRAX press release implied a full launch this week, when actually it is a beta site that has gone live. Plus the P2P outfit has been vague on what limits there will be on music downloaded via the service, and also on its global expansion plans.
Billboard reckons that QTRAX may regret rushing to make a big splash at MIDEM, especially given that the music business convention has a relatively low profile among consumers. Announcing deals that have not been signed, they reckon, will piss off the record companies, while putting an unfinished service online to coincide with the MIDEM press conference may mean unhappy early adopter punters.
Whether these issues around QTRAX's launch will affect its long term success remains to be seen. Certainly I think it's fair to say the properly licenced P2P app - which QTRAX may or may not eventually become - is still to arrive to market.