AOL Cranks up Online Music Services

by Alan Sheckter, Smart TV & Sound news editor

Targeting growth in the online music business, America Online has expanded and strengthened its online music services. AOL announced the Artist Discovery Network, which offers AOL members the ability to listen to songs and read artist biographies and other artist info. Music from major and independent record labels are part of the new service, launched July 23.

Also announced was Radio@aol, an Internet radio service that will offer programmed music stations and editorial content about the artists. It will be a new feature included this autumn as part of the new AOL 7.0.

Experts say that these advances correspond with the appointment of former BMG Entertainment’s Kevin Conroy as the top dog at AOL Music. Other major online players are expected to take notice, and possibly follow the lead of AOL, the world’s largest Internet service provider.

The AOL announcements came a week before the Recording Industry Association of America (representing record companies and artists) and the Digital Media Association (representing WebCasters and Internet radio providers) took to the courtroom to hash out copyright and royalty issues.