Muxtape Is Down

Muxtape has been temporarily shut down by the RIAA. Little is currently known about the current or future status of the website, but CNET has was able to offer a good piece of insight via the EFF’s Fred von Lohmann. Lohmann commented awhile back that,

a site like Muxtape was only able to scrape by if it did not reach a critical mass, and if it had good legal ground both in principle and on paper. We may be only beginning to see if the latter holds true.

However, it seems odd that the RIAA is just noticing a service which according to its founder Justin Oullette, has more muxtapes than Germany does people. Also, what seems odd is the fact that labels seemed to be on board with the model as a new way to advertise and distribute music. In the same interview by Wired in which Oullette commented on the site’s user base, he mentioned the labels eagerness to cooperate with muxtape.

Labels big and small have told me that they’re excited about Muxtape as a model for discovery and ultimately selling music

Perhaps the RIAA just needed to get all of its legal documentation in order before demanding radio licensing fees from muxtape. The site currently generates funds by referring users to Amazon to purchase the songs they’ve been listening to. I was unable to find any information regarding the value of the company or if they’re currently solvent or depending on venture capital.

Let’s all hope everything is quickly resolved (say by Friday) and the RIAA does not debilitate the service with fees or strict usage guidelines.

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