Suspected PayPal Hackers Seek Deal To Stay Out Of Prison
Scripps Employees Called 'Hackers' For Exposing Massive Security Flaw
Pandora forced to pull the final plug on UK service
Attention UK Pandora users: as of January 15, 2008, Pandora will stop streaming its Internet radio content. This comes more than six months after Pandora was forced to shut-down service to most non-US users and is the latest in the continually messy battle over licensing Internet radio.A reader just forwarded us an e-mail from Pandora, explaining the situation. Here are the pertinent bits:
...As you probably know, in July of 2007 we had to block usage of Pandora outside the U.S. because of the lack of a viable license structure for Internet radio streaming in other countries. It was a terrible day. We did however hold out some hope that a solution might exist for the UK, so we left it unblocked as we worked diligently with the rights organizations to negotiate an economically workable license fee...
The message goes on to describe some of the problems Pandora has had trying to work out licensing agreements with UK licensing agencies that were financial suicide. Suffice to say, nothing could be worked out:
...Pandora will stop streaming to the UK as of January 15th, 2008.
Just when we think the music industry might finally be taking steps - small as they may be - to stop fighting against technology, and instead work with technology, something like this happens, and we are reminded once again that this is an industry doing anything and everything in its power not to evolve. Although the RIAA has been the most vocal in its lobbying efforts against the removal of DRM and against fair Internet radio rates, this incident proves that it is not just American record executives; it is the industry as a whole.
Never mind that forcing unfair licensing terms on Internet radio stations and riddling files with DRM hasn't worked (US album sales, even with digital sales tallied, declined by nearly 10 percent in 2007), let's just continue to refuse to face reality while the market and business model quickly disappear and change irrevocably.
Thanks Gordon
Comments
4
Subscribe to commentsIsNoGoodJan 7th 2008 10:07PM
Not to worry
http://openpandora.blogspot.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bDis16cFmc
kingkool68Jan 8th 2008 10:14AM
Wow, for once Tech Crunch links to Downloadsquad instead of the other way around. Back to the story...
This is certainly sad but will only push independent music further into the lime light. I hope Pandora is working with independent labels that will embrace the Internet for what it is and allow Pandora to connect with it's overseas fans.
Victor Agreda, Jr.Jan 8th 2008 11:46AM
Brilliant move RIAA, you've given the US a distinct competitive DISadvantage at a time when our economy could use all the help it can get. In another day and age you'd have some 'splainin' to do...
additune.comJan 9th 2008 3:24AM
For all of you Mac users who like Pandora's music recommendations, check out the latest music recommendation software: Additune. It understands that the kind of music you want to listen to depends not only on what you like in general, but what you're in the mood for at the moment. Select one of your iTunes playlists in Additune and you'll get recommendations custom tailored to that playlist. You can choose to see recommendations for tracks you don't yet have or for ones that are already in your library. Additune is totally FREE, doesn't have any annoying ads, and will keep all private info.
www.additune.com