We7: Free Streams Are Our New Goal

UK based company We7 has announced the new direction it wants to pursue by focusing on its streaming service rather than its initial free downloads one.

We7 chose email as means of communicating the shift to its customers. The company also revealed that adverts on downloads will no longer be removable 28 days later, and that outside the UK it’s taking out the ad-supported download element altogether.

Now, the We7 site has a new fresh design, which it claims is cleaner and improves the overall functionality of the service, as it comes with an “outstanding” search facility. You can share and blog We7’s catalogue easier with the current design which, additionally includes a constant music player at the top of each page.

From the email:

Firstly, there will be loads more great music. We are currently signing more labels than ever before, such as Sony BMG, EMI, Warner Music, PIAS, The Orchard, Pinnacle and INgrooves, as well as adding lots of exciting new unsigned artists. This means more great music to listen to for free. We are uploading as many as 50,000 tracks a day, with more to come. So keep coming back to see what’s new, as we build our “celestial jukebox”.

Secondly, we have a great new design. You will see a cleaner, more functional site, making it easier for you to find the music you want. The new search facility is outstanding, and we have added new functionality to make sharing and blogging our music easier. There is also a new persistent music player at the top of each page, which means that as you browse around We7, your music continues to play.

Thirdly, as we shift the focus to free streaming rather than free downloading (at least for now), adverts on downloads will no longer be removable after 28 days. Also, outside the UK, we will be suspending the ability to download free tracks with adverts. There are many reasons as to why we have taken these steps but the main one is simple economics, as we strive to focus upon the UK to build and deliver an outstanding music experience.