New Approach to Enforcing Copyright on Recordings - EMusic.com provides a large catalog of music in MP3 form of which close to half is being traded on Napster. They are using an "acoustic fingerprint" method to stop their music files from being illegally distributed on Napster. The technology listens to the files of Napster users and when it makes a match with a song from Emusic it automatically sends an infringement notice to the user with a 24-hour grace period. This approach is very similar to Al Gore's "lock-box" idea that is programmed with certain permissions prior to it being distributed on the Net.

Yet Another Approach to Net Music Distribution - SongCatcher is a new technology patented by Gotuit.com, which instead of riffling through hard drives for music files to download skims music off terrestrial radio broadcasts. This means it's entirely legal, but the RIAA won't be happy about it. It also bypasses all the commercials, so the NAB won't be happy about it either! A free beta version of the program is at songcatcher.com

More Low-Priced Historical CDs Coming - Naxos started something with their low priced historic reissue CD series, and now some of the majors are going thru their older catalog yet again - but this time at the low price instead of mid or high price. Now Dutton Laboratories - already acclaimed for their often amazing restorations of old 78s of historic performances at standard-price - has launched a budget historical series. (See our Classical Reissues this issue.) There are no compromises in the quality of the restorations, either. An interesting point has also been reached - tape recording began (outside of Germany) about 1949, and copyright law now stands at 50 years, so we will begin first to see more masterful performances in very good sound. Then in just a few years copyright will be over on the first commercial stereo masters of the mid fifties and we should see a barrage of excellent stereo reissues at bargain price. After all these recordings have long ago paid for themselves; there's no reason music lovers should have to pay $16 and $17 for them.

Amar Bose named to Radio Hall of Fame - Dr. Amar G. Bose, the person behind one of the most recognizable names in audio, was recently named to the class of 2000 of the Radio Hall of Fame in Chicago, evidently on the strength of that Wave Radio. Others named at the same even were Fred Foy, the announcer who introduced the Lone Ranger radio show for 21 years, and the late Eddie Cantor.

- John Sunier