Mashboxx Offers EMI Catalogue for File Sharing

The yet-to-be launched Peer to Peer (P2P) digital music library, Mashboxx, will now feature record label BMI’s entire catalogue for file sharing on its site. The catalogue features more than 1,000 established artistes including the Rolling Stones, Janet Jackson, Gorillaz, and Coldplay. The licensed songs are only playable five times before the person who downloaded it needs to pay a fee of 99 cents. However, songs on the Mashboxx which are “unclaimed” by record labels, can be downloaded free of charge. The Mashboxx client will follow the path of traditional peer-to-peer services, connecting to established file-sharing networks like Gnutella. EMI spokesman Adam Grossberg said the company is enthusiastic about the potential success of labels’ partnerships with the growing number of legal P2P services. Mashboxx, due to be out in a test form soon, already has deals with Sony BMG and Universal, and has completed negotiations with Warner Music. Read more here.