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NewsvineAll U.S. college students can now enjoy free access to the Ruckus Network’s online music download service, the ad-supported music company announced Jan. 22.
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Previously, only students at universities who had entered into a formal agreement with Ruckus could access the music database, but the network is now open to anyone with a valid university e-mail account.
According to a recent New York Times article, Ruckus will feature music from both major and independent record labels who will license their music to the network for less money than they generally charge. The record labels believe that college students are more likely to steal music than pay the $10 or $15 monthly fee charged by many networks; as a result they would rather charge a small fee to Ruckus than risk making no profit at all.
Ruckus now boasts a database of over 2.1 million music tracks, as well as a collection of over 4,000 movies.
The deal Ruckus brokered with record labels has allowed the company to expand its free services, but students whose universities originally signed agreements with the network retain the exclusive privileges to download movies.
Stanford students can now download music to their computers, but several students familiar with the service note that there are several drawbacks to the system.
Ruckus uses Microsoft Windows media technology, so songs can only be played on a user’s personal computer. The network is charging students $4.99 per month, or $19.99 per semester, for the right to transfer songs to portable devices compatible with the Microsoft format, including devices made by SanDisk or Creative, according to the company’s Web site.
Ruckus’ biggest drawback? The music will not play on an Apple iPod and is not compatible with Macintosh’s iTunes software.
Ruckus President Michael Babel thinks that this will not deter students from using his site.
“Even iPod users on campus will use Ruckus because they can find music they like before they buy it from Apple or get it another way,” he said.
A number of Stanford students disagree with this prediction, however.
“Who wants [a download service] that doesn’t work on iTunes?” questioned sophomore Sydney Chang. “I mean almost everyone has that.”
Other students expressed similar sentiments.
“I might use it occasionally to listen to a song, but not as my primary downloading program,” sophomore Becca Eskin said.
Sophomore Eric Ma confirmed record labels’ worst fears when asked if he would use the service despite its incompatibility with iTunes and iPod.
“Probably not,” he said, “because it’s so easy to get free music from other places.”
Despite Ruckus’ limitations, the site does have its advantages. The download process is neither complicated nor does it require students to release much personal information, according to several who have used the program already. Interested students can download Ruckus at www.ruckusnetwork.com/getruckus.php.