Nokia Music Store launches without Warner Music due to file sharing fears

Notice anything missing from the Nokia Music Store launched yesterday? How about Madonna? According to the Wall Street Journal, Warner Music Group -- yeah, that guy -- is withholding their goods due to concerns with copyright abuse at Nokia. No, not with Nokia's Music Store but with their seemingly unrelated MOSH (MObile SHaring) file-sharing service. The other three majors -- Universal, Sony BMG, and EMI -- are all playing nice, however. A Nokia spokesman confirmed the absence stating, "we are hopeful that Warner will be part of Nokia Music Store in the future." Who knew that Madonna could be used like a big stick?

[Shade @ Nov 2nd 2007 7:46AM]

Theres no use mentioning Apple users cause this music store only supports windows users. I'm glad I don't have a nokia phone anyway. ;p

[Ethan @ Nov 2nd 2007 8:00AM]

Warner do have a point...y stick up their arse. I don't know if the music on this service was going to be drm or not, but nevertheless, nobody's going to upload copyright content to a service where your username is right next to said copyright thingymabob.

I advocate paying for music when it's free in a different sense.

[Rob @ Nov 2nd 2007 9:13AM]

Don't worry, Warner is an old dinosaur that refuses to adapt. It's well known that Warner has no new hits and lives off its old catalog. If one is to compare Warner to the other labels, you'd realize quickly how Warner is far behind on the charts. So, no major loss there, unless you're looking for 80's stuff that is.

[mvn @ Nov 2nd 2007 9:22AM]

Nokia have not listened to what is going on in the web space over online Music, the Store launched in the UK on 1st Nov http://music.nokia.co.uk has the following negatives for me,

- Uses WMA files only
- Uses 196K bit rate rate only
- Has no DRM free files
- Is restricted to using IE6+ only
- Can only deliver online to 2 (yes only 2) out of a huge range of Nokia products, and these are highend (expensive) devices N95-8GB & N81
- Will only support some Nokia devices using a sideload from PC operation (out of huge device line up)
- Tracks/Albums more expensive than iTunes (all albums fixed at 8 pounds, single tracks at 80p, even iTunes has older material at 5 pounds)
- Can only use Windows Media Player (and hence only WXP/Vista)

Positives
- Does allow user to download existing purchases if they have lost the original files.
- Will support ota streaming service
- Has a decent online store (navigation better than most recent WMA based stores)

It is still labelled beta and users can sign up now but come on Nokia have you not been listening to what the consumer wants! I can currently purchase itunes plus tracks from Apple and transfer to my Nokia phone (6120c) and play but I cannot use Nokia's own Music store!!!

No excuse when the original deal with loudeye was several years ago allowing them to watch how the market was going for online Music...I want Apple to have a serious competitor as that is good for the consumer but looks like another half-baked attempt. Hopefully when Amazon UK launches their MP3 store Apple will finally have some competition in Europe...

[pedrodelafiesta @ Nov 2nd 2007 9:53AM]

I went to the launch in London on tuesday evening. Funiest thing was the DJ mixing from an illuminated macbook, with the mac logo glowing above the presenter. There are some clever bits to the service which might make it successful.

[Richard @ Nov 2nd 2007 10:33AM]

Its almost like Nokia has two heads, on one side they have their open source N800/810 on the other they have all this DRM filled hardware. Well thats what happens when the marketing dept chases the golden dollar and forgets the read the part about pissing off its consumer base.

[Concura @ Nov 2nd 2007 10:42AM]

According to the Zune community, sharing is good. Warner will never be friends

[Al @ Nov 2nd 2007 2:19PM]

Would it be a good thing if these Nokia wifi phones could be social with Zunes?

[bob @ Nov 2nd 2007 4:28PM]

Warner are becoming a digital joke, this, itunes, zune deals, totally ridiculous and they are who will loose out to torrents in the end.