Paul Young has announced he is making a new download store called Etopia Music his online home, I'm guessing he left his hat there. As far as I can make out, this new digital music operation works a bit like TuneTribe or 7Digital's IndieStore in that it will enable unsigned acts to sell their digital music alongside established artists. The main difference is that Etopia Music can put quotes from co-founder Young on their press releases.
Here's what he says: "The music business is all about getting your talent noticed, so Etopia Music sells new and unsigned acts alongside the biggest names. We are using the power of the internet to make it easier for bands to connect with new fans and hopefully earn some money from their music. Acts from anywhere on the planet can upload their music and have it for sale within minutes, profiled alongside major artists. Etopia Music can help fill the gap between the record industry's narrow commercial focus and the vastness of the web and social networking sites because we are dedicated to giving new or unsigned talent a break on their own terms".
Etopia will be selling all sorts of music in a DRM free format - meaning that while the 'supporting new talent' component of the service is admirable, of more interest is probably which of the major labels are supplying them with content. While all four majors have now announced they will be selling music DRM-free this year, in the case of Warner and SonyBMG that pledge has so far been limited to Amazon's US based download store.
For a brief moment you might think Etopia is also stocking SonyBMG tracks as MP3 - with Leona Lewis and Elvis Presley on the home page - but it seems the Elvis tracks are from a small independent release, and the Leona Lewis tracks are from her 'alternative' debut album 'Best Kept Secret', which consists of early tracks recorded before the chart topper's X-Factor win, and which were recently put on sale by the management company she dumped after her involvement on the TV talent show - UEG - the release of which has reportedly pissed off Simon Cowell big time (lawyers at Cowell's SonyBMG imprint are rumoured to be on the case).
Other things of note about Etopia are that it will be selling higher quality 320kbps MP3s, that a variable pricing system will let artists set rates from 50p upwards, and that artists will get 80% of revenues. Oh, and Young will be listening to tracks uploaded by unsigned artists and compliling a regular 'talent chart'. And for those who like to know the corporate set up - Etopia has a number of backers other than Young, including dance music download set up Audiojelly.
Etopia's MD Ricky Simmonds adds: "We believe most consumers want access to high-quality legal downloads and in return they can play their music on any device they like, without complicated and discouraging restrictions. Both established and unsigned acts can sell their music on Etopia Music free of copyright protection and hopefully increase revenues and their audience at the same time".