Latest music file could succeed the MP3

Nicola Brittain, Computing, Friday 22 January 2010 at 15:53:00

MusicDNA is touted as the answer to piracy within the music industry

Norwegian technology company Bach is to launch a new digital music file which
will have additional content including lyrics, news updates and images embedded.

The file, called MusicDNA, is touted as a successor to the MP3 file. MusicDNA
will only be available from legitimate sites, and is an attempt to counter
piracy in the form of illegal downloads.

Essentially it is an MP3 player with extras, and can be downloaded onto fans?
computers, where it will be updated when labels, bands or retailers send out
information. This might include future tour dates, interviews or updates to
social networking pages.

If the file is downloaded illegally it will remain static and not receive
these updates. Bach are willing to partner with retailers, rights holders and
technology companies and will provide the technology to others for use under
their own brands.

Bach also has outlets in Germany and China and partners with the German
Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Media Technology.

The file can be used on any MP3 player, and in an interview with Reuters,
Bach chief executive Stefan Kohlmeyer said: ?The service would hark back to the
time when music fans enjoyed looking at the lyrics and artwork on an album
almost as much as they enjoyed listening to the music itself.?

Full story at http://www.computing.co.uk/computing/news/2256619/file-successor-mp3