Who Used SpiralFrog.com? Ever?

The subject of SpiralFrog.com is in the news again.  With one of the most awesome and in-depth looks at an internet startup music company is this week’s article at CNET.  And yes, they show numbers.

It discusses the rise and fall of SpiralFrog.com – an innovative ad-driven, streaming music website.

They Had Big Dreams – But Plopped a Turd Instead

The best part of the writeup is this quote among many other figures,

…He noted that SpiralFrog had initially projected 2008 revenue at $55 million, then reduced estimates in January that year to $25 million, then reduced them again three months later to $3 million. “Uniques are great, but hedge funds want to see revenue,” he implored….

Check out the article for the numbers $$$

Awesome article, a must read.  Here ya go.

After reading how bad they screwed up managing the thing, ask yourself, if they actually ever had a chance?

675k Awarded To Greedy Labels

The labels have once emerged victorious by suing a grad student over 30 songs.  If you didn’t read his merciful article that he wrote before going to trial, you must read it.

He was found guilty and the punishment is 675k.  Of course this was also the guy whose defense was “he’s was just a kid doing what kids do” so I don’t feel too sorry for him.

675k to the RIAA – I wonder how much the artists are going to end up getting out that?  Any of it?

Also, if you can’t prove how many times the song was downloaded, how can you prove what the damages are?  I always thought that the law was founded in proof.  Proof that you actually distributed those songs to someone and in doing so that person did not buy the song when they were actually going to buy it…  How can you prove that?

How can you prove that much in damages when the only proof is that mediasentry downloaded the file.  Mediasentry wasn’t planning to buy that song before encountering the download were they?  Acting as the copyright holder and merely stealing your own music…does that prove that someone else is illegally sharing and causing damages to the tune of 675k?

Man…when are we going to see a video of one of these cases?