14 DAY TRIAL // Yo, Chinese music lovers, I am sorry for you. If you're not sorry for yourselves yet, you will be, unfortunately. Sina.com, one of China's biggest portals running in multiple online fields plans the release of a new platform for online music, downloads and other wireless value-added services (according to Shanghai Securities News).
?So f***ing what?? are you tempted to ask... (don't deny it, because I know you just said these words!) Well, the crappy thing is that Sina.com will not do this move by themselves but in co-operation with some other entities. Reportedly, Sina.com will join forces with Sony BMG, Universal, Warner, EMI and Rock Records in order to put things on a moving, growing trend.
Now, in case your heart hasn't accelerated fast enough to 200mph, brace yourselves: what do Sony BMG + Universal + Warner + EMI (?pants-pooper?) stand for? RIAA! Now, let's recapitulate: one of China's largest web portals shakes hands with RIAA and some other records company (they really don't matter when it comes to RIAA) and then say they'll also sell online music.
The result? Nothing more ? nothing less than RIAA actually extending their jurisdiction in China, maybe in search for other students to make them pay $600,000 or some more crippled people who were in Shanghai when they were accused of stealing some crap Paris Hilton MP3 in Beijing.
According to France Press (cited by Yahoo Music News), such new shape for Sina.com would most likely render it the largest of its kind in China. Now, I find it amusing how they used ?platform? instead of ?association? or even ?hungry bunch?: one person not knowing what's the fuss with RIAA (I hope there aren't many such people) might even enjoy the news: ?wow, dude, new platform stuff, platforms are so cool!?
Well, I'd say little reasons for joy are to be found when a large internet-based business teams up with RIAA and claims they'll see to the online music ?things?.
Why would RIAA go for China? 120 million registered internet users and 460 million active cell phones is not something to let it slip between your fingers. Now, the internet-crap is common, but Beyonce ringtones are made from her MP3s... get it?
Even though it's a bit early to predict exactly what will happen as Sina.com will join forces with RIAA, I am pretty sure that we are going to get piles of crap from the Chinese RIAA bureau as well. And if I'll be proven wrong... well then...lucky Chinese internauts!
And one more thing: news agencies never mentioned RIAA but damn, we're not all stupid!