Labels Agree On Free Music Downloads To Cell Phones

An anonymous reader writes "CNet's Crave reports on a potentially revolutionary digital music service set to launch worldwide later this year. It's offering free, unlimited over-the-air downloads to cell phones, with music from all four major record labels, with no subscription. And the selections that users download get automatically downloaded to their PC or Mac. Rather obviously, the tracks are DRMed, but unlike the similar Nokia service unveiled last year to much disappointment, this MusicStation Max service will have exclusive handsets from LG and no additional fees to customers. This is a little similar to an idea talked about last year, but with all four majors on-board it seems to have greater potential."

Well

[Idiot with a gun]

All 4 major labels are involved, why didn't they include the part about getting sued?

Why buy music now?

[Anonymous Coward]

This doesn't add up to me. Free downloads, no subscription fees, transferable to your home computer - so why will I need to buy any music ever again?

What's the business model for the record labels?

Re:Call me a dinosaur...

[DJCouchyCouch]

Quick, get off his lawn before he eats us! Run!!!!

Re:Call me a dinosaur...

[toppavak]

Exactly! It still boggles my mind that computers do anything other than do math! Whats all this graphics and gaming crap they put on computers these days- just grab a pen and paper or go outside! *humph* "applications" on a computer... what a waste.

Re:Call me a dinosaur...

[yiantsbro]

Tsk. Tsk. You and your fancy "number storing" telephone.

This just in!

[symbolset]

Music companies just found another tech company to take a bajillion dollars to promise them that sweet, sweet DRM.

How many times does that make now? I can think of no better evidence that cocaine makes you dumb.

Re:Well

[Technician]

All 4 major labels are involved, why didn't they include the part about getting sued?

The announcement if by the lables, not the RIAA. In other news, The RIAA to sue all four lables for making avaliable songs.

Re:Call me a dinosaur...

[Trintech]

Dinosaur? I think you more likely have a case of functional fixedness [wikipedia.org] rather than a case of old age. Dinosaurs didn't use cell phones and they enjoyed having a peaceful, uninterrupted dinner.