I like their style, and I would've made the same move. Though I'm speaking on the outside looking in, Union Square seems to be much more connected with the industry and their investments. I think they probably "get it" more than most. Props to Turntable.fm.
But one major question remains. Will Turntable.fm be able to qualify as a non-interactive streaming radio service, afforded DMCA protection by the Copyright Act of 1998? If it does, then all it needs are these relatively inexpensive performance rights. If, on the other hand, Turntable.fm is labeled an interactive streaming service like Spotify, then it would need to go about securing the rights from all the record labels, a much more daunting and expensive task.
How the heck will turntable pull this off? IANAL but they are about as interactive as music services get.
It's a subtle challenge. The reason DJs cannot play music alone is that the audience has no choice of the song. So while DJs are clearly interacting/choosing songs, the majority of listeners are passive.
I'd love to see a post somewhere that explored some of this stuff, since I don't have a clear understanding of the arguments / precedents for both sides.
I think this story goes to show how much the venture capital business has shifted in the last few years (it sure has changed a lot since I started really caring for it). I guess the best analogy I have to Union Square's ongoing success (and impressive portfolio) is how an indie band pulls a gigantic win and suddenly becomes a key player. These guys have, much due to Wilson's diligence and passion for disrupting ideas, become a force to be reckoned with.
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[ 3.0 ms ] story [ 25.1 ms ] threadhttp://www.avc.com/a_vc/2011/06/globalization-continued.html
http://www.avc.com/a_vc/2011/06/to-science-and-art.html
How the heck will turntable pull this off? IANAL but they are about as interactive as music services get.
http://www.copyhype.com/?p=303
Kudos to them.
whoa