Allofmp3.com shutdown, Mp3sparks still up

It looks like allofmp3.com has finally been closed down. Almost.

The embattled online music store appears to have quietly lost its battle for survival just in time for Putin's two-day visit to Kennebunkport, Maine.

The web site has long been a thorn in relations, and U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab sharply warned last fall that it had to be closed before Russia could join the World Trade Organization.

Early last month, most online music stores registered by MediaServices, the owner of AllofMP3.com, became inaccessible to their millions of clients. AllofMP3.com itself would not load Sunday, while visitors to AllofMP3.ru, a mirror site, were greeted with a no-entry sign and a note saying, "We are sorry but the server is closed for maintenance."

Not that this will change much as allofmp3 has prepared for the closure of its domain, creating a rather familiar sister site called Mp3sparks (mp3sparks.com.) Wikipedia has all the details:

In late April 2007, two apparent sister sites of AllOfMP3 emerged. MP3Sparks, and MemphisMembers. Both sites use a layout and feel that is similar to the original AllOfMP3 website, and both are owned and operated by the same company that runs AllofMP3.com^{[citation needed]}.

MP3Sparks is a virtual clone of AllofMP3 with a few options changed and different colors. The site is licensed by the Rightholders Federation for Collective Copyright Management of Works Used Interactively(NP-FAIR), instead of by the Russian Organization for Multimedia and Digital Systems (ROMS). This is a key difference as it gives them legitimacy in the eyes of their payment processors Chronopay and E-Centru.

MP3Sparks users are theoretically able to fund their account via VISA, MasterCard and other credit cards without restriction{{Fact|date=June 2007}). This is quite true for some, while others still get the familiar message that credit card transactions are not available at the moment. This differing behavior has now been determined to be based on the IP that the user contacting MP3Sparks is coming from. Some IPs are blocked, for whatever reason. This has been shown to be the case because users who find that they cannot pay on MP3Sparks from their own IP addresses, often CAN pay when they use some form of proxy server which changes their IP to one from somewhere else.

Some AllOfMP3 users have reported receiving an invitation to MP3Sparks seemingly at random when viewing their balance screen. If the invitation is accepted, that member's history, balance and status is deleted immediately from the AllofMP3 website and is transferred over to MP3Sparks website.

Unlike MP3Sparks, Memphis Members is reserved for those individuals that have been high money spenders on either AllofMP3. Using a look that's similar to the classic AllofMP3 layout, it allows members to have more options than the standard invited member as well as being able to fund more money to their accounts in $25, $50, and $100 increments (in comparison to the default $10, $15, $25 and $50 increments on AllofMP3, and $10, $15, $25 increments available on MP3Sparks.) Memphis Members are given their own link to the semi-stealth website (hxxp://username.memphismembers.com) which they can use to access the site whenever they choose. When a person who is not a member of the Memphis Members website tries to access this page, they are greeted with a blank page that contains the words "nothing here." While there has been rumors of the Memphis Members website being linked to credit card information being resold (unbeknownst to the owner) on the black market for use in credit card fraud overseas, none of those claims have been substantiated as being true. It is suspected that these are actually rumors being floated by the IFPI and the RIAA to scare off potential members.

It has been reported in previous versions of this article that MP3Sparks is an entryway for users to become Memphis Members and that they will be sent invitations when they have spent $300. This is incorrect. In fact the administrators of Media Services have told people inquiring that they will not consider MP3Sparks users for MemphisMembers because they "already can pay." MemphisMembers seems to be reserved for current long time AllofMP3 users who have spent in excess of $300 on the site.

With the potential (not at all impending) closure of the AllofMP3 website during the summer of 2007, many people feel that these are shrewd business moves by MediaServices, Inc. (the parent company of AllofMP3) to stay in business and run under the radar of the Recording Industry Association of America, one of the major driving forces responsible for the crippling and destruction of AllofMP3.com. Whether or not the RIAA will take further action against MediaServices for their actions is unknown at this time.

For those counting, I believe this is at least the 11th time "Allofmp3 has been gone for good." While their name may be permanently gone, their services are up and running.

Allofmp3 "Shutdown" Dates

An incomplete history of times when Allofmp3 was thought be doomed.

Feb 22, 2005: "Russian music site targeted by law enforcement"
May 15, 2006: "Allofmp3 Down - For Good?"
May 30, 2006: "Allofmp3.com running out of time?"
Jul 3, 2006: "BPI gets go-ahead to sue MP3 Site"
Aug 18, 2006: "AllofMp3 suffers mysterious downtime"
Oct 19, 2006: "Credit card firms cut off Allofmp3"
Sept 15, 2006: "Anti-piracy law could shut down Russian music download site"
Nov 28, 2006: "Russia Agrees To US Request To Shut Down AllofMP3"
Dec 21, 2006: "Allofmp3 sued for 1.65 Trillion"
Feb 2, 2007: "Russia to legalize digital content market"

Pretty resilient. But how long will it last? The Nov 28 and Feb 2 articles may actually signal the end.

June 1, 2007 Deadline for Allofmp3 Shutdown

Update: I replaced inaccurate info about March 15 deadline with accurate info about June 1 deadline.

"The agreement is dated November 19 and posted to the Web site for the Office of the United States Trade Representative. It summarizes the joint efforts of the two countries to fight content piracy, an issue known to be centered in Russia and Eastern Europe.

“This agreement sets the stage for further progress on IPR issues in Russia through the next phase of multilateral negotiations, during which the United States and other WTO members will examine Russia’s IPR regime,” states the document.

The document specifically names AllofMP3.com as an example of the types of Web sites that they will shut down. We contacted AllofMP3.com and the company sent us an official statement stating their legality. It says that the company has offered to remove illegal music at the copyright holders’ requests." TechCrunch

The U.S. pressure on Russian authorities to target Allofmp3.com appears to be working. I'm no Russian legal expert, and I have absolutely no clue how this will proceed, but it really doesn't matter. At this point, it's almost impossible to load money onto Allofmp3. The question is, if the Russians shutdown Allofmp3, what will happen to the other Russian music sites?

No matter, there are still the Ukranian Sites:
http://www.mp3city.com.ua/
http://mclub.te.net.ua/
http://www.mp3.ua/
Allofmp3 may even join them.

What's the deal with Xrost

To load money onto Allofmp3.com, it used to be:
1) Go to http://www.xrost.biz and put money on a card
2) Go to http://account.allofmp3.com/pays/payments.shtml?action=step2&via=xrost
Login and Deposit.

But this message has been up on Xrost.biz for much longer than 48 hours:

" Dear valued customer,

As part of our ongoing effort to improve the payment platform, we will be performing a scheduled server maintenance. The payment option at our site will be restored in 48 hours.

Sincerely, Xrost Team "

Without Xrost, it's hard to load money onto Allofmp3. There are plenty of other Russian Mp3 sites that allow you can use a credit card, but I hope they return.

Anyone know what's going on?

Beatles Pick AllofMp3.com over iTunes (Satire)

"It's like the President's daughter announcing she will marry Osama Bin Laden." Says RIAA lawyer Hugh Billings. "Allofmp3.com is an outlaw organization with links to organized crime and possible terrorist groups. More importantly, Allofmp3.com doesn't pay any royalties to RIAA members for the use of their copyright materials. Giving Allofmp3.com control of the must lucrative music franchise in history is a mistake, a very big mistake."
Link

Allofmp3 Moving to Ukraine?

"The first thing I did was to look up their IP-location. It used to be in downtown Moscow but now they're situated just a few miles north of The Black Sea (nicer climate I bet) in a Ukrainian town called Mykolayiv (population approximately 500.000)."
From Warez.com

This could subdue legal issues for a while.

Russian Tycoon to make AllofMp3.com Legal

AllofMp3.com is by far the most popular Russian Mp3 Site and also has by far faced the most scrutiny. Although their legal status is ambiguous, they offer a wonderful product—DRM free music files in almost any format and of almost any quality.

From Electronista,
"Online music store AllOfMP3 maybe subverted through a corporate buyout, according to a report today by the research firm Music Ally. The analysts indicate that an as yet unnamed "influential and wealthy" Russian tycoon has been pursuing the direct download shop and intends to legitimize its often questionable licensing scheme by taking control of the company. The businessman is working on behalf of music labels and publishers that believe AllOfMP3's extremely low-priced downloads skirt the edges of its home territory's law, Music Ally's researchers claim. If successful, the takeover would be followed by new licensing deals obtained directly from the labels themselves."

Since they already have a sophisticated infrastructure for selling music files in place, AllofMp3 could turn into a nice indie music store, but its sketchy past might make getting any licensing deals awfully hard. I find it hard to believe that AllofMp3.com will be able negotiate a deal with the RIAA, who has sued them for 1.65 trillion in America. If they go "legal", Allofmp3.com will probably only sell music from independent labels (unless they too want money for music Allofmp3 has sold).

I received this email on my Squidoo Lens from someone who claims to be an Alloffmp3 user. I'm am naturally suspicious of websites like Alloffmp3.org and allofmp3-i.com because they are obvious attempts to capture traffic intended for Allofmp3.com. Despite a misleading domain name, I have marked them as reliable on my lens because users suggested them and I really have no way to verify whether a user is truthful or not.

Considering all users credible is perhaps a bad policy but, if you pay any of the sites, the websites probably will let you download mp3s, as one user who gets scammed will severely hurt their business. The cost of the domain, hosting, and web design are probably not worth scamming a few customers. So I think that, except for a few mistakes here and there, most of the Russian Mp3 Sites can be considered reliable in the sense that if you pay for it,
you will receive your desired mp3. The confirmation of a site's reliability by customers on my Squidoo lens is required mainly to foster discussion about the sites and to hear about bad experiences. Even if someone who works for one of the sites gets me to call their site reliable, chances are it actually is reliable.

Anyway, I'm not sure what to make of this email; is it an honest review or a company promotion? It looks to me that it is written by someone who learned english as second language, but they do give real praise and criticism. If this is from a company promoter, I'd much prefer it if you contacted me through my lens and provided information about your company, instead of writing fake emails. Otherwise, I apologize to Nick or whoever sent the email, unless of course the email really did come from George W. Bush, who has much more important things to be doing.

"Thanks for this page, I have just given allOFFmp3.org a go, and I am fairly impressed.

The payment options from the money bunch were a little confusing, but I could pay without extra charges with a visa card. I went for $20 credit, an it was available instantly.

Prices seem somewhat random, length is generally a factor, but it still seems a bit hit and miss. Albums with a lot of longish tracks, (say 10 x 6 minuters) can work out a lot more expensive than the same amount of time in one chunk).

They seem rather weak on stuff like modern american bluegrass, but have a VERY impressive range of modern electronic, (Berlin School and others).

The web site is nothing like as easy to use as "all OF mp3", and there is no download manager, but it works. In short, a few rough edges and inconsistent pricing, but lots of stuff that "all of" does not stock. I'll be getting more!" --Nick <president@whitehouse.gov>

It begins.

I've always been fascinated with the Russian Mp3 sites. Through a combination Russian loopholes and lack of enforcement, they are able to transparently sell Mp3s at a much lower price than their American competitors. But not only do they sell Mp3s for low prices, but they also design websites and clients (especially Allofmp3.com) that rival or are perhaps superior to those that are RIAA approved. They demonstrate what can be done without restrictions, no DRM, different file types and qualities, longer (or full) previews, generous bonuses, and innovative pricing structures.

Now, a restriction free music world is frightening to artists and record companies. They lose control of what becomes of their work; they lose profit models; they lose their whole current infrastructure. An industrial revolution is fun for the consumers, but content owners aren't quite ready for radical change.

It is my understanding that the Russian Websites donate some of their profits to a pool for rights-holders, who could claim money for their works, but by doing so would legitimize the sale of their works. Thus, not much money (if any) goes to rights-holders from the Russian Sites and the music industry. The RIAA obviously isn't happy about their existence and with the new U.S. trade agreement with Russia, I find it hard to believe that these Russian Mp3 Sites will be able to continue to operate effectively, if it all, for the next couple years. The credit card companies have already made it harder to pay Allofmp3.com. You currently can only pay Allofmp3 by going through XROST, a third party. Yet, until then, it will be very interesting to follow the websites. There are at least 20 of them.