Local website to offer legal song downloading
As of the end of January, Israeli surfers will be able to legally download Hebrew songs from the internet and pay only a few shekels per each song; Singer-songwriter Yoni Bloch says site will provide opportunity to see whether ‘we are as civilized as the rest of the world’
The site that will provide the songs aims at battling the numerous file-sharing sites on the net that enable surfers to download music illegally and free of charge.
The new site is set to offer albums and songs released by Israel's three major record companies, Hed Arzi, NMC and Helicon, and focus mainly on Israeli music. According to the Israeli Record Federation, which initiated the move, the site will contain 95 percent of the existing musical repertoire in the country.
'Anything can be found for free on the net'
MSN Israel is set to operate the site, which will be owned by Microsoft and Internet Zahav. The price for downloading songs is expected to stand at 5 shekels per each song.
Israeli artists seem thrilled about the new concept, which may help to protect their livelihood. "This sounds like a great thing," Ofer Meiri of the Metropolin music ensemble said. "The fact that it will be legal is important. I believe it will work, or at least hope," he added.
Singer-songwriter Yoni Bloch said the site will provide an opportunity to see whether "we are as civilized as the rest of the world."
"Anything can be found for free on the net these days, but music just sounds better when you pay for it," he stated.
The record companies involved in the project have also expressed satisfaction over the move. "Those who did not realize by now that in the future music will be first and foremost provided by the internet, does not understand the world we live in," NMC's CEO Zeev Schlick said.
