Tokyo and tech through the eyes of a split pea

Music Industry First – Major Label releases tracks under Creative Commons!

My current project, Otorevo, which I’ve written about before here, here, and here, has decided to release the winning band’s vocal tracks under a Creative Commons license. You can read the Japanese introduction and download the tracks. We’re running a remix contest for the next 6 weeks, so be sure to submit your work!

Supposedly this is an industry first – a major record label, Columbia Music Entertainment, releasing content under a Creative Commons license. And not just one track, but for an entire album! Of course, many other artists have done this before, so the concept isn’t new. It’s true that we could have gone further – to allow reselling of remixed works would have really made headlines, and I pushed for it really hard, I did, I was thiiis close – but alas, the appeal of being able to say you’re signed with JASRAC was too great for the artists.

Baby-steps, as they say. Especially in Japan. So download the tracks while you can and go have some fun!

Update 3/25/2008: The local Creative Commons chapter has issued a press released – w00t!