Amazon MP3 (beta) Unveiled… Featuring DRM-Free Songs

Amazon.com has launched a beta version of their web-based digital music service called Amazon MP3. It seems cool for a number of reasons…

(1) It’s web-based - so you don’t have to download and install any desktop applications to access the service.

(2) The music is DRM-free.

(3) Variable Album Pricing - the price for full albums start at $5.

(4) Customers have the option of downloading a small application that will automagically save their purchased songs to either iTunes or Windows Media Player.

Because of the lack of DRM… EMI Music and Universal Music Group remain the only major labels participating at this time, along with a number of independent labels. Although 2 million songs are already available for purchase.

Check Out AmazonMP3 Beta

Bloc Party’s U-myx and UK Remix Contest

Do you live in the UK? If you do… here is your chance to remix Bloc Party’s “Hunt For Witches.”

Bloc Party has partnered with U-myx to give fans in the UK a chance to throw down some remixes and win tickets to a gig of their choice on the upcoming December UK tour. The top 3 fan rated remixes from the UK will win their choice of tickets. The band’s favorite remix will also be featured on their MySpace page.

I am sure you know what the UK is, but you may not know about U-myx…

“U-MYX is an interactive music format. It lets you make personalized mixes of major artists recordings, without requiring any specialist knowledge or equipment. Your mixes can then be shared online and bought as mobile phone ringtone.”

Visit the Bloc Party/U-myx Microsite

Listen to the remixes already uploaded by fans

Amatuer, by Lasse Gjertsen

Lasse makes amazing videos… for this one he filmed each drum beat and piano key separately, and then pieced them all together to create a music video.

This video takes off at the 1:30 mark when the piano playing starts…

Dr. Dre Files Lawsuit Against Death Row

Dr. Dre (Andre Young) has a filed a lawsuit against his former label Death Row Records over copyright ownership to the album “The Chronic.” In 1996, Dr. Dre agreed to give up 50% ownership of the rights to the album in exchange for continued royalties. However, Death Row never paid up and now Dre wants his music back!

Timeline of events via Pitchfork

Specific details about this case via Billboard

RIAA Sends More Pre-Litigation Letters to University Students

503 pre-litigation settlements letters have been sent to 58 different Universities from the RIAA.

These letters are part of the RIAA’s education and deterrence campaign that is focusing on illegal file sharing on college campuses. This campaign offers students a chance to settle copyright infringement claims against them at a discounted rate. If the students choose not to participate… formal lawsuits will be filed.

Since February, the RIAA has sent 2,926 of these pre-litigation settlement letters to university students.

Read the full article.