Streamwaves Announces Streaming Subscription Service
Amidst the hoopla regarding Napster's transformation to a subscription based service and MP3.com's expensive copyright battles, Streamwaves.com (www.streamwaves.com), has arisen to have a go at a subscription based streaming service.
Streamwaves announced a deal with EMI Recorded Music (www.emigroup.com), to license a portion of its music catalog. The deal is a non-exclusive, multi-year licensing agreement that will allow North American consumers to stream music on-demand.
To use Streamwaves, a consumer will not need to own the music, as with services such as MyMp3.com or Myplay.com. Nor will Streamwaves use peer-to-peer technology, as it will be streaming its music from a nationwide network of servers designed to place the content close to the end-user for better performing streams.
According to Jeff Tribble, CEO of Streamwaves, the site has requested the top 10,000 songs from EMI's catalog, and pending approval, will be offering these songs to consumers when the service is launched at the beginning of next year.
Tribble also stated that Streamwaves is attempting to negotiate content deals with the other four major labels. That number could be reduced; however, as EMI's board acknowledged on November 10 that it has been approached by Bertelsmann regarding a possible merger between the two companies.
Tribble believes that a merger between the two companies would be a positive benefit to Streamwaves as it could potentially pave the way to a content deal with a larger scope. Nonetheless, it remains to be seen how Bertelsmann's relationship with the "transformed" Napster will play out.
Streamwaves subscribers can create their own playlists using an Internet browser with a user-friendly interface that functions much like a jukebox or CD player. Subscribers will also be able to listen to pre-programmed music selections and playlists created by other users. Streamwaves' secure, high-quality proprietary technology is designed to provide an easy-to-use entertainment experience.