Will The Telegraph's tie-up with eMusic expose the staff's guilty pleasures?
I noticed a couple of weeks back that The Telegraph has a special promotion, where they have joined forces with eMusic to give away free downloads to readers.
What struck me as really interesting is the way that they are selling the idea that you can see and follow the music taste of Telegraph writers and editors, as well as contribute to a Telegraph 'chart'.
Since eMusic is a social download platform, member's networks can build into an interesting blend of mixing genuine friends with contacts, colleagues, and strangers who just happen to buy the newspaper that you work for. For those Telegraph staffers who have joined the service specifically as part of this promotion, they can obviously pick and choose what they buy and download, knowing that it is being shared with the readership. And it isn't just the music writers involved either - people like Erin Baker, the Motoring Commissioning Editor, now have their download habits on display.
For someone like Shane Richmond, however, the situation is different. His profile indicates that he has been a member for a couple of years already, so linking up to him via The Telegraph promotion might expose any number of guilty pleasures he bought in 2006, not knowing that they would later be the public property of The Telegraph's audience. He doesn't seem too bothered mind you, and blogged enthusiastically about the partnership. With good reason - eMusic is a very good music download platform.
I really enjoyed using eMusic myself when I was living in Austria. Sadly my own e-Music membership has lapsed, so those Telegraph taste secrets are currently safe from exposure on currybetdotnet!
Posted by Martin Belam, October 9, 2008
Read more posts on currybetdotnet about: Daily Telegraph, Music, Social media
The views expressed on currybetdotnet are my own, and do not reflect the views of my current or former employers.
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I'm a London-based internet consultant and writer, with 8 years experience in product management, information architecture, and user experience design for global brands like Sony, Vodafone, The Guardian and the BBC. I specialise in advising on search, widgets, RSS, online news publishing and bulk email delivery.
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3 comments so far
I don't think there are many guilty pleasures in my list of downloads but perhaps I'm lacking sufficient levels of guilt!
Having Lawnmower Deth on my list may give people the wrong impression but they can see that the only track I downloaded was the very funny cover of Up The Junction so hopefully I can get away with that one.
They Might Be Giants? That's a little embarrassing. I have no excuse for that.
Anyway, I stand by my downloads.
Ah, Lawnmower Deth - I remember them from John Peel - did you know they are reforming for a one-off gig in November?
I didn't know they were reforming but I can probably live without seeing them. Aside from comedy cover versions, I don't know much about them.
I do like the fact that they called an album Ooh Crikey, It's Lawnmower Deth, though.