AOL Bags MP3

Blazing through the night with cheque book in one hand and swag bag in other, AOL are on the offensive. In one of the strongest votes of confidence yet for Internet music, America Online has purchased two keystone online music companies.

AOL announcement that they are to acquire Spinner Networks and Nullsoft is a major step forward in the MP3 maze, raising the stakes for the likes of SDMI and all the other "standards" that various companies are trying to push through. FYI: Nullsoft are the people behind the "popular" MP3 player, Winamp, and streaming server, Shoutcast. Spinner.com is a music broadcasting service that features over 175,000 songs from 350 labels. i.e. AOL have got their hands on some tip-top techno toys and a phat collection of choones.

"It's an obvious counter in some ways to the RealNetworks announcement," said Steve Grady, vice president of marketing for MP3 music site, Goodnoise.com. "For the MP3 community as a whole it's a great thing because you have RealNetworks and AOL both heavily into the MP3 scene," Grady added.

America Online said it would use the Spinner and Nullsoft technologies and programming to allow consumers to play all leading formats of Internet music. The technologies will deliver live and Internet-only radio, sports, and music. AOL also plans to use the acquisition to build a wide range of new audio and other applications for its partners.

Grady looks forward to the effect of high-profile commercial MP3 developments on his industry. He cites both RealNetworks and America Online's track record in making the online experience user-friendly. "There are some serious resources being put behind making downloadable music a much easier experience for people," said Grady. That sounds, "All Good" to us.

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