Music is indeed moving toward free. This idea has been further illustrated this week by Last.fm and Qtrax, who have announced that they are now making millions of major label tracks available for free.

The Good

• Last.fm is paying artists each time a track is played.
• Qtrax allows downloads so that you can play the music offline.

The Bad

• The DRM permits us from playing these tracks on some devices.
• The labels still own the copyright.

If music is going to be free (as in freedom) musicians need to keep control of their copyright. New musicians should retain distribution rights; that way the musicians (not the labels) decide how their music is used. And also, why should the labels get a cut of this deal?

This is a step in the right direction. But let’s not fall to our knees just yet, because music will be free when the musicians control it.

CD sales are down, major label revenues are sliding, and the music industry looks to be in recession. But music isn’t dying; it’s changing.read more | digg story

As of today, you can play full-length tracks and entire albums for free on the Last.fm website. Additionally, Last.fm will start paying artists directly for the music they stream!

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Apparently the RIAA is so busy suing consumers that they forgot to hire a decent programmer. With a simple SQL injection, all their propaganda has been successfully wiped from the site.

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The RIAA has quickly become one of the most disliked organizations in the world. And now, they’ll be liked even less.
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An attempt to push through significant levies on digital music players (up to CAN$75 per device) has been quashed by Canada’s Federal Court of Appeal. Innovators and consumers rejoice.
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It is becoming more and more difficult for the music industry to ignore the basic economics of the their industry. All the big labels have now given up on DRM. They haven’t yet given up on trying to charge for their music, however.
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EMI is unhappy with its contributions to music trade groups. Now, the IFPI confirms to Ars that the organization is taking a hard look at its own budget and mission, with a special eye to its relationship with national groups like the RIAA. The RIAA as we know it might even cease to exist.
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In a twist for the music industry’s digital revolution, “In Rainbows,” the new Radiohead album that attracted wide attention when it was made available three months ago as a digital download for whatever price fans chose to pay, ranked as the top-selling album in the country this week after the CD version hit record shops and other retailers.
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Mentions the moment that EMI knew CDs were over. And goes into Universal’s new “Comes with Music” downloads which are included in new products like a future Nokia phone.read more | digg story