What is Choruss and Should We Sing Along?

Storm Gloor
University of Colorado Denver

Abstract

Since peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing first overtook the music business at the turn of the twenty-first century, industry professionals have attempted to legitimize, monetize, and regulate the transmission of music via the internet. Although several attempts to do so have materialized, such as iTunes, none have managed to significantly deter illegal piracy. Thus, in 2008, Warner Music Group teamed up with digital music expert Jim Griffin to “fix the ills” of the music industry. Several months and entertainment-media-speculations later, Choruss, a college based subscription P2P file-sharing experiment, was announced. Although not a direct “fix,” this early phase of Choruss would primarily serve to collect vital information on consumer behavior. Setting aside its own share of concerns and challenges, Griffin believes this information will influence a new international P2P file-sharing model that could redirect a significant amount of illegal activity back to legitimate services.    

Keywords: Choruss, music industry, music licensing, P2P, peer-to-peer, file-sharing, piracy, iTunes, Warner Music Group, Jim Griffin, entertainment media, music distribution

Gloor,Storm. “What is Choruss and Should We Sing Along?” Journal of the Music and Entertainment Industry Educators Association 9, no. 1 (2009): 41-62. https://doi.org/10.25101/9.2

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