Qtrax promises October 29th launch in Asia
Qtrax boss Allan Klepfisz has been blogging again, and in between laying into recent coverage by an unnamed journalist (presumably CNET’s Greg Sandoval), he talks launch specifics. Qtrax will now launch, he says, in nine Asia-Pacific countries on 29th October – including China. That’s a significant shift from its original plans to go live in the US first.
“We won’t be nobbled. And we will launch,” he writes, before making a veiled threat to doubters. “The underminers can continue to undermine. But we are going to strike back. By exposing. By protecting. And if necessary, by utilizing the legal system.”
China is shaping up as a fascinating market, what with Apple on the verge of signing an iPhone deal, Spotify partnering with TOM Online to launch its service there, Google already offering free ad-funded music downloads, and now Qtrax targeting it as a launch market.
Tags: qtrax
August 19th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
I’m amazed that other writers aren’t covering the launch of Qtrax. I understand some skepticism of their launch, with their record, but it’s hard to ignore the global licenses and deals they have acquired in the last year and a half. Qtrax could be the biggest thing since Google. I would think it will start hitting the press, soon! Can’t wait for the launch!
August 19th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
Qtrax’s journey may have seemed unsymmetrical at times, but battles are often won that way. The big established players have an open, exposed flank, and I believe Qtrax is in position to take advantage there.
August 20th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
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August 20th, 2009 at 10:58 pm
Jason – you must be smokin something. There is no way a music service is going to be bigger than Google. It is just a ridiculous comment. Pull yourself together man. Qtrax is going to hit the same hurdles they all have. The labels have not magically changed overnight.
August 20th, 2009 at 10:59 pm
Quite honestly, the more interesting story here is how China will shape as a digital music market.
August 20th, 2009 at 11:49 pm
I tend to agree Steve that there’s no way a music service is gonna be bigger than Google; after all, we’re talking about the music business here let’s not forget.
BTW I love how Allan Klepfisz is calling out CNET reporter Greg Sandorval, I presume, for posting a factual story about their money woes. I think Allan needs to learn to grow a thicker skin or something if one reporter bothers him THAT much, or maybe he just needs to learn about the internet LOL (ironic, eh?) if he can’t handle some warranted bad press. His little rant reminds me of a baby or small child whining to its mother about some trivial injustice. Allan, grow up, and maybe stop making thinly veiled threats to people, when there’s no way your argument would EVER hold up in the court of law. It smells of immaturity, and of someone who is clearly insecure about their business if they are trying to stiffle the media.
In all seriousness though, for an ad-supported service to be successful, they need lots of people visiting their site and returning frequently in order to generate enough revenue to pay for the downloads and for maintenance of their servers. Anyways, it’s a little early to be proclaiming their triumph before they’ve actually launched. I hope they succeed, but if history has taught me anything, they probably won’t — it’s just too fickle a business. But hey, can’t blame for trying to give it a go.
August 25th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
Steve, I said “could be the biggest thing SINCE Google”. I didn’t say bigger than google. And being the only music service to have worldwide contracts with labels, why couldn’t it be that big? Think about it- Google is not the biggest thing all over the world. Baidu dominates in China, where there are over 300 million internet users. Google is tiny in comparison over there. So if Qtrax launches it’s service in 9 countries across Asia, and then follow with US, Canada and Europe, why wouldn’t you think that millions of people will be trying it out? Of course there will be hurdles, but think oustide the box. Right now, I can go to Google, Yahoo, etc. etc. to do a search. If I want to download free and legal music, I can go to…. where, again?
September 19th, 2009 at 8:10 pm
Jason, you’re getting “free” music, not free music. If you’re willing to download a product where you have no control over how you can use it and how long you can use it (i.e. only works with certain music players and could stop working if they ever go bankrupt like the other “free” sites, like SpiralFrog and Ruckus), then by all means, enjoy! However, I think the fact is this is a service trying to be the answer to a question nobody asked or cares about. Those willing to legally download music are willing to pay to be able to use it how they see fit. Those not willing to legally download music will continue to pirate, because once again, it has no restrictions like DRM.