“I have always believed that the ability to play music on any player or device actually means that music is music and not a commodity that can be sold and resold in different formats to actually and covertly sell equipment, “ says Austin Music Download’s founder and President, Carolyn Holzman.
Even the major labels are recognizing that in order to continue the growth in digital sales, they are going to need to get comfortable with the changing demands by a younger demographic. DRM gets in the way of the concept “download anywhere, play anywhere.”
Austin Music Download artists have direct and immediate control on their own material. They can upload after recording and make a track for sale literally once they convert it to mp3. If someone’s name is mis-spelled, they can log in – correct it and it’s done. While they have access to their content on iTunes, once an error is introduced into the system it could take 6 months to a year to correct it.
Its next phase of service scheduled to be functional by January 2008 will involve the ability to provide credit-card sized cards, printed in full color and with download codes to allow for artists and bands to sell specific downloads at their shows. No longer will it be necessary for the consumer to “remember”
Accounts are free to the artist or record label to set up and free to maintain. When a track sells .60 goes to the artist and the remainder covers transaction costs, site maintenance, marketing and advertising.
