Clouds are no longer full of rain. They are full of MUSIC!

If you are a music lover and you use your computer to search, access, and hopefully buy (not illegally download) your music, then by now you have heard of the cloud systems. No, that’s not a clever name for a band who’s songs include, “I think that one looks like a rabbit,” “They are gray and full of rain,” and their biggest hit, “Marshmallows in the sky,” but what exactly are the cloud systems? How do they work? Who do they benefit and will it truly be the way of the future?

Google’s quirky but still very informative online book, “20 Things I Learned About Browsers And The Web," describes cloud computing as “having a massive supercomputer at your beck and call, thanks to the Internet." It’s pretty much a backup system for your files. The cloud systems allow you to access your files from different devices as well as share your files with others. 

Finding a way to use this new cloud technology to share and download music is what Amazon, Google, and SoundCloud have done. Both Amazon and Google launched their cloud systems without finalizing certain details Record Labels, like if they have to pay royalties. Of course the Record Labels believe that if music is being streamed or downloaded then royalties should be paid. During an interview with Billboard magazine, Amazon's Director of Music, said that their cloud system is more like a library for it’s subscribers. He said that they believe that royalties do not have to be paid, because the songs being uploaded and downloaded are songs that have previously been purchased and are solely being used the purchaser. To me this sounds a little sketchy, but for now they’re getting away with it.

In Google’s case, they were actually trying to work with they Record Labels, but as soon as their system was ready to launch, they launched without reaching any solutions. In an article in Billboard Magazine, Google blames the Record Labels for making unreasonable demands, and the Labels blame Google for constantly changing the details of what they planned to launch. Both Amazon and Google’s cloud systems are at a very early stage, and I don’t think I can truly judge their quality, until they are given a chance to actually take off, but I will say that they are no SoundCloud.

SoundCloud is actually pretty fantastic. Sometimes I feel as if I was a spokesperson for them, but trust me I’m not, I’m just a fan! SoundCloud is helping new and upcoming artist get their music out. It’s the modern day myspace music page, but better! (Yes, I know MySpace is still around, but who really uses it anyways?) A subscriber can upload their music, receive music files from other subscribers, and even create a page for others to listen and comment on their music. I could sit here and give you the details, or you can watch a video about it. I personally recommend the video. Don’t worry I’ll wait here patiently until the video is done. Here you go:

All these cloud systems are beneficial for all of us who are music fans, but most importantly they are beneficial to unknown artists that are trying to get their music out there. We must all embrace this new technology that is at our fingertips. Only time will tell if the cloud systems will be the way of the future. In my opinion they will be, until something better is created! Music and the way we receive our music is constantly changing!