Music download vending machines coming to Britain
posted Nov 15th 2004 11:19AM
A company called Inspired Broadcast Networks is installing music vending machines in a couple of subway stations in London that'll let you download music to your cellphone or MP3 player. They're going to charge £1 per track, with each kiosk having about two million songs to choose from, and that they have plans to install more than 20,000 of them at pubs, stores, and gas stations around the country. So let's see, custom CD kiosks never really took off, why should music download kiosks do any better? It might be a little faster to use a kiosk, and there is a convenience factor for when you're on the go, but it's not like you can't already download (and even legally buy) music pretty easily using a computer at home; we won't even get into all the compatibility and DRM issues involved with connecting up different MP3 players and cellphones.
Brilliant...it's about time. Whether wirelessly, tethered or by offering card slots, this is what the industry needed to do in the first place and that is to make available for a cost that which is free if you are in front of your computer. Point being that we are not always in front of the computer. If you are..well then maybe this is your ticket to join the rest of us again.
Great Idea, now you are guaranteed to be mugged on the underground.
What will they think of next?
CD kiosks didn't take off in large part (IMO) because of the reluctance of the music industry to allow content to be made available, especially in per-song increments. Now that Apple has busted open the online music market, and labels seem more willing to explore these markets, these sorts of kiosks could become popular -- perhaps even the old CD burning variety, though DRM could be a sticking point on that.
I can't wait untill some idiot trys to break in and steal all the music Hahah.