qtrax

Is this the unluckiest man in digital music?

Digital music has not been altogether kind to Robin Kent.

Kent was once CEO and chairman of mighty ad agency Universal McCann, but since jumping to digital music, he has had the misfortune of working for one start-up that went bust (SpiralFrog) and another that has done little more than attract controversy (Qtrax). Kent is now walking away from the sector.

On Tuesday, Kent notified associates that after three years working almost exclusively for Qtrax, he will no longer provide consulting services to the much maligned legal peer-to-peer company, which is only available in a few overseas markets. Qtrax has … Read more

Former RIAA chief tries to save Qtrax image

Qtrax missed another deadline.

The would-be ad-supported music service once again failed to meet a self-imposed launch date. The company said barely two weeks ago that it would roll out in Australia and New Zealand on November 5.

For most start-up services, launch delays are embarrassing, but not unexpected. For Qtrax, this is only the latest installment in a year-long run of embarrassing misfires, lawsuits, unpaid bills and broken promises.

Within the halls of the top recording companies, Qtrax's setbacks have begun to take a heavy toll on the company's already battered reputation. To make matters worse, the … Read more

Qtrax faces more financial, legal problems

Update: 8:30 a.m.: To include iLike news.

The financial troubles dogging Qtrax, a peer-to-peer music service that has spent years trying to get off the ground, appear to be deepening.

Last month, CNET News reported that enterprise software giant Oracle had filed a lawsuit against New York-based Qtrax, alleging that the service owed it $1.9 million and had violated its copyright. Now, records show that at least two other companies have filed suit in New York against the music service in efforts to collect allegedly unpaid bills from the music start-up.

In addition, Qtrax is behind in … Read more

Oracle sues Qtrax, claims P2P site owes $1.8 million

Oracle, the giant enterprise software company, has accused Qtrax, the legal peer-to-peer music service, of copyright infringement and breach of contract in a $2 million lawsuit filed last week in Northern California.

Qtrax is the music service that was ridiculed in January 2008 after the four major labels denied the company's claims that it had licensing agreements with them. Eventually, Qtrax did get the major label deals. Nonetheless, the start-up has apparently run into some trouble paying bills in the past several months, said a source close to the company.

Oracle said in the complaint, filed with U.S. … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 749: Tom no longer exists on Netflix

Netflix inspires nothing but rage in Tom, Molly, Jason, and Natali with its announcement that it will not only get rid of profiles, but also erase all the data of the profile-holders. Tom? Quitting. Netflix? Claiming hardly anyone will be affected. We also suggest that Netflix consider the approach of Microsoft, which heard the furious cries of the 46 people who bought DRM'd tunes from MSN Music, and is extending its support for that DRM through 2011. Hint hint, Netflix, hint hint. Listen now: Download today's podcast EPISODE 749

Netflix To Eliminate Profiles Feature http://www.netflix.com/Help?p_faqid=3962&nlid=20427.1001179.0.1.0.0&eid=T1dbO9MEwQ0c … Read more

Legal P2P music site Qtrax signs EMI Music

Qtrax, the free music site with the questionable history of signing labels, has cut a licensing agreement with EMI Music, the company announced Tuesday.

"EMI's music will be available free to registered Qtrax users for unlimited streaming or downloading to a PC," the companies said in a statement. "(Users) can also load downloaded tracks on up to three portable devices and play them while their membership remains active."

Here's the rub: users must sync their portable device every two months so the number of plays can be counted so that artists are accurately compensated. … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 724: YOU are!

It's episode 724, wherein we argue, but in a happy way. MySpace wins a $234 million antispam judgment they'll probably never collect, and Google blurs faces in Street view, maybe just to be nice. Also, it turns out seniors are more acutely aware of the passing of time (or they hate commercials more than the youngsters do) and Qtrax makes four improbable deals. Listen now: Download today's podcast EPISODE 724

Note: We are making a change to our podcast feed system on Monday, May 19. However, you do not need to subscribe to a new feed. One … Read more

P2P service Qtrax inks publishing deal with Warner/Chappell

Qtrax, a company that stumbled badly out of the gate, appears to be on the road to recovery.

The legal P2P music service has signed a licensing deal with Warner/Chappell music publishing, according to a spokeswoman with Warner Music Group. The move comes a week after Qtrax inked a deal with Universal Music Group, the largest recording company.

If you remember, Qtrax was the company that claimed in January when it launched the site to have signed all four of the top music labels, only to see the companies deny such agreements existed. Since then Qtrax has continued to … Read more

Qtrax finally signs major record label

Qtrax, the legal P2P music start-up, really has signed a licensing agreement with a major label this time.

On Tuesday, the company announced it has inked a deal with Universal Music Group, the largest of the four major record companies. The partnership comes four months after the labels denied the company's claim that they had agreed to supply music for the site.

"Qtrax will now have access to the most extensive digital music catalog of chart-topping artists in the world," Universal Music Group said in a statement.

Qtrax, an ad-supported P2P service, didn't ballyhoo the news … Read more