<![CDATA[Gawker: valleywag, qtrax]]> http://tags.gawker.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/gawker.com.png <![CDATA[Gawker: valleywag, qtrax]]> http://gawker.com/tag/valleywag/qtrax http://gawker.com/tag/valleywag/qtrax <![CDATA[Qtrax spends $1 million to tout free online downloads — but record industry begs to differ]]> Qtrax.jpgFree P2P music service Qtrax launched at Cannes yesterday with the support of all four major labels: Warner, Universal, EMI and Sony BMG. Or so Qtrax claimed in its announcement, a star-laden extravaganza which reportedly cost $1 million. But Silicon Alley Insider reports that Warner, Universal, EMI, and Sony are only in negotiations with Qtrax and have not settled on final terms.

Best of all: Qtrax CEO Alan Klepfisz claimed he wasn't trying to mislead anyone: "We feel we have been unfairly crucified because a competitor tried to damage us." Klepfisz didn't name names, but we're reminded of Pogo: "We have met the enemy, and they are us."

]]> http://gawker.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=349774&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA["Free" music site to drive users to pirate]]> QTrax, the free, doomed music siteAd-supported music download siteQTrax plans to launch its services by the end of this year — possibly as early as the rapidly fading summer. It's one of several services attempting to redefine digital music and aspiring to move past all these sticky legal wickets with the RIAA. Along with rival Spiral Frog, it also will have to contend with sharing sites like Lala, which subsidizes file sharing in the hopes that users will wind up purchasing music. But for QTrax users, there's a slight caveat.

Despite contracts with most major labels to allow online downloads and music play, users have to use its ad-serving peer-to-peer client. Trapping users into one interface, as Apple does with iTunes, is one of the driving forces behind music piracy. Besides, if you're already comfortable with illegal downloads, QTrax hardly sounds like a reason for you to stop.

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