SOURCE
"Imeem now boasts deals with all four major record companies, including Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group (nyse: WMG - news - people ) and EMI Group, all of which have already inked deals with the social network.

It's a sharp turnaround from earlier this year, when none of the majors were willing to sign on to imeem's new ad-supported interactive service. In fact, Warner sued imeem, arguing that by allowing its members to upload and share MP3s of Warner music, it was infringing on its copyrights.

But in July, Warner dropped its suit and struck a partnership with imeem under which the major label allowed free, full-song streaming of its music in exchange for a cut of imeem's advertising revenue. Sony-BMG Music reached a similar deal with imeem in September, followed by EMI in October and now Universal. A source familiar with the Universal pact said the label is also receiving a small payment each time one of its songs is streamed."
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What's your take on this?
~Code

In fact, Warner sued imeem...

Inadvertently. Totally by accident.

A source familiar with the Universal pact said the label is also receiving a small payment each time one of its songs is streamed.

So they haven't exactly set the music free, as the headline implies. It's still locked up, but you're allowed to listen to it now.

Of course, they've wasted billions of dollars fighting imaginary pirates instead of artist development, so there's not a lot left to listen to. Columbia Records fired just about everyone except Bruce Springsteen and Rick Rubin last week. It's almost gone.

The industry's long history of (your list of grievances here) has finally caught up with it. Not because they were greedy, or evil -- but because they're just not quite as smart as a box of rocks.

The playing field has almost been leveled, but not quite. When everyone's music earns a small payment each time it is streamed; when our plays are counted in the same manner as that of the major labels, that's when the real competition starts. Suddenly, the RIAA won't be able to claim an 85 percent share of the market.

Don't forget to boycott Imeem kids!

But there's a link!

Code posted this one.

But shouldn't we ALWAYS provide a link? (Even when it is to an RIAA owned destination that we are asking NOT to visit? Y'know, let the reader have the freedom of choice.)

Same thing as saying, "hey, don't put your hand on the eye of the stove 'cause it's hot" ...but NOT physcally keeping the kid from being burned if they fail to listen?

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Naw, yer probably right George. These are OUR kids!

DON'T GO THERE KIDS!!!

Shmoo....Imeem is listed under the
"connect" links on the navigation bar on the left side of the page along with facebook.

Imeem is a pretty good idea of how better to serve the artists who create exciting, wonderful ideas and music for the rest of us. I intensely despise the leechlike nature of the recording companies against artists and would like a system with serves the artists and their fans. The RIAA's claim of 85% market possession exactly makes my point about the music industry's diseased state. The artists and their fans should have 100% possession of the market, not a leeching third-party like the RIAA.