Podcast start-up creates music network

The PodSafe music network is designed to give podcasters access to music, other content and tools to create royalty-free podcasts, the company said Tuesday. Musicians can use the network to promote and market their music, while listeners can access music in single-play or podcast formats, the company said.

Podcasting lets people take radio-like programming off the Web and listen to it on their computers or portable music players. Privately held PodShow was founded last year by Curry and Ron Bloom. The company roped in $8.85 million in venture funding last week, indicating the growing interest in podcasting.

The company said PodSafe will feature music provided by artists or labels that own the rights but are willing to offer their music royalty-free for use within podcasts, as a promotional measure.

Listeners can subscribe to their favorite music shows and have new music delivered to them daily. Using CastBlaster tools, producers can create, upload and manage their shows and promote their podshows, the company said.

"The network opens the door to a new world of music and music personalities that cannot be found on traditional radio," Bloom, PodShow's CEO, said in a statement. "By empowering artists and podcasters, we have created the framework for an entirely new form of music promotion and discovery to emerge."