Lala.com: Stream Your Music Anywhere
There are basically two business models when it comes to online music sales: Charge a set fee to download a track or album to own, or charge a monthly fee and let subscribers stream or download "rented" tracks as much music as they want. Upstart CD trading site Lala.com has just completed a bit of a rebirth and is now offering both models, but is also offering unlimited streaming of the entire Warner catalog for free, as well as unlimited streaming of any album currently on your computer from any other Web-connected computer.
Founded by .com millionaire Bill Nguyen, Lala.com started as a place where you could trade CDs with other users for $1 a pop. If you had something you didn't want anymore, you just posted it online and shipped it to someone who answered your posting (you'd then receive a CD you wanted in return from that same person). It is now clear that CD trading was just the beginning for Nguyen.
Late last year, the site purchased popular underground Internet music station WOXY.com, and listeners were told they'd soon be able to create and run their own personal Internet radio stations. That's effectively the idea with the re-released Lala.com, which offers a free downloadable browser plug-in that scans your computer for music and automatically uploads your collection. You can then listen to your library virtually anywhere you have an Internet connection. You can even create playlists and re-download your tracks to your iPod
Also, playlists are not limited to tracks you own. You can browse through the entire Warner catalog, pick an album, and add any track you like to your streaming playlist. If you want to download something you don't own and want to take on the go, you just pay $.99 for a DRM-free, something iTunes charges a $.30 premium for.
One of the coolest features is the ability to download any of the tracks you own directly to your iPod, as well as purchase any track and download it directly to your iPod. Sounds good on paper, but we're wondering what happens when you fill up your iPod with your lala.com-purchased tunes and want to move them somewhere else temporarily. Do you just delete your songs and download them right to your iPod again next time you want to listen to them? Or are they lost forever? We haven't been able to figure that out, but will have an answer for you shortly, we hope.
iPod downloads aside, Lala.com has become a great place for music lovers who want access to their tunes from anywhere, much like the old MP3.com was back before it was hit by a million lawsuits. Will Lala.com suffer a similar fate? Time will tell, but music lovers will have a blast here in the meantime..
From 'USA Today' and The Wall Street Journal Online
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Yassine @ Jun 6th 2007 7:42AM
i prefer Aol Music !!