Music hasn't come to the PC in any meaningful way yet, but technology companies are scrambling to stake claim to wireless delivery systems -– albeit delivery systems that don't work together.
On the day a federal appeals court reversed the order to break Microsoft in two, the company issued its screed on how its Windows Media digital rights management solution -– built directly into its XP operating system –- would help mobilize music.
Windows Media is supported by 70 consumer electronics devices, and Microsoft is working with Intel to create an architecture for delivering audio and video over the yet-to-be released, high-speed 3G wireless network.
All of this is great for consumers, unless of course you happen to be listening to or watching RealAudio files. Then, well, you're out of luck.
But if you're a Real-phile, Hewlett-Packard's new Digital Entertainment Center allows listeners to search for, find and store digital music without a PC. The stand-alone product is designed to become the centerpiece of any home entertainment system as it offers connections to the television and the stereo.
While the RealJukebox will play WMA music files, the RealPlayer still doesn't play Microsoft streams.
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Fab 5 Freddy's funhouse: Fab 5 Freddy has a new gig as the host of his own hip-hop entertainment show at Vivendi Universal's Getmusic.com.
The show will have interviews with artists and record company executives, interactive chats and segments on the history of hip-hop in the United States and around the world.
"Hip-hop has always been very much about community and the interaction between the creators and the audience," Freddy said. "The Internet has helped strengthen that community even more by giving artists and fans an easy way to connect with each other."
Set to debut in late summer, the show is the latest online property developed by the French media conglomerate.
Freddy first gained widespread attention in America with the release of Blondie's 1981 hit Rapture, which helped introduce rapping to Middle America. A noted graffiti artist and music video director, Freddy eventually became the original host of Yo! MTV Raps.
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Music Score: While consumers continue to wait for a slew of expensive music-subscription services to launch this year, a group of filmmakers hopes to use the Internet to bring down the costs of acquiring music.
The Film Music Media Group launched a website that helps directors and producers find musicians to score their movies. The MusicForYourFilm.com site also has an online directory service, a licensing resource board, message boards and sample contract agreements.
Companies have been looking for synergies between television, movies and the Internet.
Musicblitz.com has an exclusive library that it markets and sells to network television shows and movies.
Eveo, a video and music company, originally hoped to create a network that would allow independent musicians and filmmakers to find each other.
LicenseMusic.com even offered television and movie producers the opportunity to immediately license music from unsigned bands.
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