With 60,000 recordings from 182 record labels, Wippit is a new attempt at a legal, profitable P2P network. Their business model is based on subscription – currently priced at US$49, the one year pass allows you unlimited downloads of all material on the service. The client guarantees no spyware or RIAA lawsuits, which is refreshing. Amongst the material available on the network are tracks from Underworld, the Stereophonics and FC Kahuna. They also have the Cheeky Girls.
The EMI deal includes artists like Radiohead and Pink Floyd, but excludes The Beatles, whose music is not available for download currently.
Fans of Shazam can forward Shazam SMSs of ID’d tracks to the Wippit Wireless number, and have the track forwarded to them for downloading later, if Wippit have the track.
Wippit are based in London, and led by Paul Myers, formerly of X-Stream.
The client is currently Windows only, but they’re considering Linux and Macintosh ports if there is enough demand.