The Deal on WaTunes New VIP Service

Hey everyone,

So I've been getting nailed about how the WaTunes VIP service will work. How will we price this kind of service, and what will come with it. There has been a controversy on whether we will charge a one-time $30 fee or a yearly $29.95 fee. So let me clarify how the upcoming new VIP service will benefit the artist.

Though we initially wanted to offer a one-time fee, we felt that with greater services in the works and to help provide ways to reduce cost to make this work, we will offer the upcoming VIP service for $29.95 a year. We really want to provide an extensive service upon our free online music distribution.

The freemium model will always remain and will always be open to all artists and labels. We will never take way the free service and entitle the artists 100% of their royalties. Rest assure that this part of the free system won't change.

So for $29.95 a year, what will a VIP artist or record label will be able to get? Currently, while we distribute to all music store services using the freemium model, upon the launch of N.E., we had to make certain tweaks in the free model to make both parties happy.

Free Users will only be able to deliver contents to iTunes, eMusic, and ShockHound. Users will still be entitled to keep 100% of their profits. Another change that will occur in the free system is that the user won't be able to request an iTunes Weekly Trend. Reason for this is that we don't believe in charging $2.99 per report and it would be extremely difficult to maintain in the long-term. Lastly, free users will only be able to upload Music audio contents. For artists & labels wishing to upload Music Videos, they would have to upgrade to VIP.

VIP Users will have a very unique service. Including expanded upcoming music store offerings (which I will announce soon). VIP users will also be able to get unlimited iTunes Weekly Trend reports, get considered for spotlight features, distribute Music Videos, get expanded mobile distribution, offer up Free Music Downloads on the front page, VIP badge, expedited content deliveries, get considered for sponsored remix contests & sweepstakes, and more!

If you guys have any comments or suggestions, let me know. :)