Problems for SpiralFrog ad-supported music service
If you were looking forward to trousering free tunes in return for listening to a few adverts… well, you might have to wait a bit longer. SpiralFrog, which was due to launch late last year, has reportedly run into problems.
According to a bulletin from music biz consultancy Music Ally, the company has laid off several of its executive team, and pulled out of a panel slot at this week’s MidemNet music biz conference in Cannes.
Music Ally suggests that SpiralFrog may have struggled to pay advances to record labels AND spend enough on marketing to attract enough users to satisfy its advertisers. “It looks unlikely to go live in its proposed form now that senior management have left the company,” says the bulletin.
It’d be a shame if the news turns out to be true. SpiralFrog signed up two major labels – Universal and EMI – and created quite a splash in the media when it announced its plans last year. Until an official announcement is made on the company’s future, those of you who want downloadable music for free will just have to… well, you don’t need me to tell you.
