Billboard yesterday referred to Spiral Fong as the "much ballyhooed music service", which is a great expression and one I intend to use on a much more regular basis. Anyway, Spiral Frog, the previously reported (and much ballyhooed, don't forget) ad funded free download service, due to launch later this year, is in the news this week because of reports that the whole venture is about to go defunct. Rumours began when CEO Robin Kent left the project over the Christmas break, and began to spread when the company withdrew from a MIDEM event this week. Now CNET reports that five management team members and three board members have resigned from the company, throwing its future into considerable doubt. As previously reported, the Spiral Frog business model proposes giving away free DRM protected music files that come with ads attached - the labels earn a fee from the ad. Universal Music Group signed up to participate in the venture last year.
Jan 24, 2007
•
1 min read
Questions asked as to whether Spiral Frog will ever launch
Reports say Spiral Frog's CEO Robin Kent has left and five management and three board members have resigned, raising doubts about the ad-funded download service's launch.