Don't really understand it, but apparently in Bulgaria there is now some sort of iTunes Site where you can download downloads for free.

 

 

Bulgaria Telecom BTK Launches 1st Legal Free Download Site in Country

10 February 2009, Tuesday

 

The Bulgarian Telecommunications giant BTK launched Tuesday the first ever in Bulgaria legal free music download and free game servers access through its 4fun.bg portal. Photo by Nadya Kotseva (Sofia Photo Agency)

The Bulgarian Telecommunications giant BTK launched Tuesday Bulgaria's first ever legal free music download and free game servers accessed through its 4fun.bg portal.

 

From 4fun.bg, BTK customers using the BTK high speed ADSL internet have access to over 100,000 songs. The musical content on the site is a catalog of the world largest musical Universal Music.

 

The catalog contains the newest as well as most famous performers such as Rihanna, Duffy, Akon, Jay-Z, Anastacia, Ne-Yo, Morandi, 50 Cent, Enrique Iglesias, and collections of legendary bands and musicians, including U2, Metallica, Sting, Andrea Bocelli, Rolling Stones, KISS, Dire Straits, Barry White, Tom Jones, ABBA, Marvin Gaye and many others.

 

The music in 4fun.bg is divided into 9 groups: POP, ROCK, DANCE, RAP, R&B, WORLD, CLASSIC, JAZZ, OST (Original SOUNDTRACK).

 

In addition to the first ever legal free download in Bulgaria, the site offers news from the international musical scene and a regular "Top Artist of the Month" rubric.

 

The contract between BTK and Universal was officially signed Tuesday in the presence of officials form the two companies.

 

The new site is accessible to all internet users who can look at its content and listen to up to 30 seconds from each song from the catalog. Only ADSL customers can, however, download free music.

 

BTK offers two packages for the site: FREE - customers can download music from one group free of charge and HIT which allows customers free download of any selection from the catalog for BGN 4 per month.

 

BTK also offers free access to Game servers for some of the most popular computer games in Bulgaria and all over the world - Counter Strike 1.6 and Condition Zero. All internet users, owning a licensed copy of the games, have access to the Game server.

 

The content of 4fun.bg is going to be periodically updated and actualized.

 

 

What do you think? Certainly stamps out illegal downloads.

I think in the future, it's most definite that probably worldwide singles/single tracks will be available to be downloaded for free. Record Companies aren't making much money from single sales, esp when you've got things like 15% going to iTunes itself, and then another 60% being split between the writers and producers, leaving not much left over for the record company and artist itself.

 

I think free downloads would also boost album sales. Download the lead single for free, and if the listener likes it I think they would be more swayed into buying the album, rather than purchasing the song, than buying it again on the album, etc. etc.

Shame it's only in Bulgaria (atm).

Shame it's only in Bulgaria (atm).

It'll catch on everywhere else eventually.

Wasn't there a thread about The Isle Of Man earlier?