A music experiment will soon begin with the ambitious attempt to reinvigorate people to buying music online. For just 10 cents you'll be able to select a song to play whenever you like from Lala.com. These aren't obscure indie bands — they include nearly the entire major label catalog.
Once a song is added it can be listened to an unlimited number of times. But the songs are not downloadable, not useful for portable players or mobile phones, and not playable on internet radios or game consoles. These 'web songs' are trapped in a browser tab.
While the advertisements talk about 'buying' songs it is more akin to rental. The songs and the permission to play them are stored on a remote machine by a company that may discontinue the service at any time. Microsoft's MSN Music Store announced they would pull the plug and all purchased songs went into the coffin. If Microsoft cannot keep their store going, you need to expect any store to be in jeopardy.
Will people pay ten pennies for a restricted web song with pseudo ownership? I have serious doubts.
--MR
