QTrax Announces Licensing Deal With Sony/ATV (Again) & EMI – Still On Life Support
QTrax, still on life support in the Intensive Care Unit, announced that they have finalized a licensing deal with Sony/ATV, again, and EMI Music Publishing. The first declaration with Sony/ATV came in early November, but things really weren’t finalized apparently until today. The announcement comes shortly after QTrax was utterly humiliated at Midem when they prematurely announced deals with all four majors before anything was actually signed.
From The Beginning Of The End For Qtrax:
The free, ad-supported, P2P service launched at MIDEM today with a shaky “beta†version of their service and no licensing deals. The news comes after the company briefed reporters on the launch last week, claiming it had a catalog of 30 million tracks from the four majors, along with an assortment of independent labels. However Warner Music Group issued a statement declaring that no licensing deals have been inked. Then Sony BMG, EMI Music Group and Universal Music Group all chimed in stating that Qtrax didn’t have signed agreements with them either. It appears that Qtrax is at least in talks with at least Universal, but nothing has been finalized. It was also discovered that Qtrax will put limitations on music downloaded from its service, which it denied in the past. More bad news.
Midem was downright cringe-worthy for QTrax who spent lavishly on Wedding Reception, but were left at the alter by all four majors. But you have to give them something for their tenacity. The concern who finally inked the deal with Sony and EMI, also announced that they’ve come to terms with TVT Records. Although the deal with TVT is kind of a joke since the beleaguered label is in Chapter 11 after one of their many new millennium lawsuits blew up in their face.
