*INTRODUCING GUVERA.COM

Ad-supported downloading is back. A model once lost in the recent history books of Ecommerce, ad-supported MP3 search sites are beginning to sprout up once again with updated business models that seem to prove effective. One such service is Australia’s Guvera. This site allows users free access to the downloadable MP3s of their choice with a small sacrifice: Users must navigate to that MP3 by going to a branded page (sponsored by an advertiser) and finding it amongst a list of other songs that the advertiser has chosen to sponsor. Basically, companies pay ad dollars to create a profile page for their brand. On that page, they offer the free download of a select list of MP3s that they decide to sponsor. The ad dollars pay all of the royalty fees as well as a chunk for Guvera. It’s just like Old Spice is logging into your iTunes account and purchasing songs for you, all you have to do is spend a few moments on their myspace page.

Guvera has already teamed up with ASCAP, the first and leading U.S. performing rights organization, as well as a handful of labels such as Universal Music Group, EMI, INGrooves, and IODA. For more about the ASCAP merger, click here. Guvera will be up-and-running in the U.S. shortly, but in the meantime, check out the Australian site and familiarize yourself with its function, this is the future of free (but paid for) online content…

-DJ MAGIC