AfterDawn: News

Google launches free music download service in China

Google, in conjunction with over 15 record labels, has announced the launch of a free online music download service that will allow anyone in mainland China to download over 1.1 million tracks for free.

The service has music from Chinese labels, Warner Music Group Corp., EMI Group Ltd., Sony Music Entertainment and Universal Music, as well as 14 independent labels and the service will be limited to those using an IP address showing they are in mainland China.



"This is the first really serious attempt to start monetizing online music in China," said Lachie Rutherford, president of Warner Music Asia and regional head of the IFPI.

China has been the poster child for music piracy, with some Chinese music acts admitting to no longer recording because piracy has made the business unprofitable.

Kai-Fu Lee, Google's president for Greater China, says that 84 percent of the Chinese population uses search engines to search for music. "With today's offering, we complete the puzzle and offer a complete set of services that are fully integrated," he added.

China currently has over 300 million Internet users.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 31 Mar 2009 0:28

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• 11 comments

• gallagher

  Wow, so if enough Americans pirate music, they will then give it to us free? Legally?
  
  That is motivation to stop piracy . . .

  31.3.2009 00:59 #1

• stuntman_

  is there a way to make my ip address look Chinese so I can get the free music?

  31.3.2009 01:26 #2

• gfactor

  if ya go to google now they actually have a download option for mp4 in the sidebar

  31.3.2009 02:14 #3

• gfactor

  sorry not google(dam roomates speaking in my ear) i meant youtube

  31.3.2009 02:18 #4

• wrules

  Originally posted by stuntman_: is there a way to make my ip address look Chinese so I can get the free music?
  i think there is actually but your internet browsing speed will suffer alot. i know people that have accessed cbs to watch csi from the uk.

  31.3.2009 02:19 #5

• cousinkix

  There is definitely software that can re-route your IP through China or any other country. Some people used these programs; when they were blocked from using ISO Hunt not that long ago.
  
  Programs such as Hide IP Platinum do slow things down though.
  
  STUPID Americans subsidize drug research! Corrupt pharmaceutical firms export the same pills to foreign countries, where the prices are much cheaper. So people go to Mexico and Canada to fill their prescriptions. Everything is over the counter in Tijuana's drug stores too.
  
  Now the RIAA wants to do the same thing with copyrighted music. These IDIOTS only encourage piracy with this madness...

  31.3.2009 02:36 #6

• pphoenix

  Originally posted by cousinkix: There is definitely software that can re-route your IP through China or any other country. Some people used these programs; when they were blocked from using ISO Hunt not that long ago.
  
  Programs such as Hide IP Platinum do slow things down though.
  
  STUPID Americans subsidize drug research! Corrupt pharmaceutical firms export the same pills to foreign countries, where the prices are much cheaper. So people go to Mexico and Canada to fill their prescriptions. Everything is over the counter in Tijuana's drug stores too.
  
  Now the RIAA wants to do the same thing with copyrighted music. These IDIOTS only encourage piracy with this madness...a proxy is what is needed. doesn't Hide IP Platinum just hide your browser?
  
  drug companies, well the problem there is they charge too much, should deciding weather people with aids in Africa die because they can't afford the drugs at the levels set by the US and Euro firms or should they be allowed to make generic medicine to keep people alive?
  
  American government/corporations always seems to care more about profit than human life!
  
  TRADE: U.S.-Central America Deal Could Block Cheap AIDS Drugs

  31.3.2009 10:34 #7

• kikzm33z

  Quote:The service has music from Chinese labels, Warner Music Group Corp.Wow.
  So they're being fags all over YouTube and now they allow free music download in China?

  31.3.2009 14:08 #8

• beanos66

  Originally posted by stuntman_: is there a way to make my ip address look Chinese so I can get the free music?look for a proxy site and choose one from china
  
  problem is though you will probably need to be able to read chinese. I don't know how succesful babel fish wiil be

  31.3.2009 14:32 #9

• Morreale

  Well, that's where Google comes in with their trusty translator :)

  1.4.2009 19:41 #10

• brent333

  just try bitcomet or utorrent....yes share engines, but you can get anything you can imagine at no cost. NO we're not "stupid" americans, were a people with an arrogent, incompotent, out of control government......don't tread on me!!

  12.4.2009 03:55 #11