In addition to the multiple “skins”, this new music file format also can embed accompanying graphics as well as notes from the artist/musician. The new music file format called MXP4 -- Multiplied Experience Platform 4 -- multiplies the end-user listening experience and brings more facets of discovery and deeper connection between music listeners and the artist/musician, Trish Thomson, CEO of Musinaut, told Macsimum News. On a business level, the MXP4 format is a new revenue-generating and brand-building model for musicians and producers.

"Given the predominance of Macs in music industry, we've released the Mac and Windows versions simultaneously," Thomson says. "The founders of Musinaut believe that music has been two-dimensional up to now and artists haven't been able to exploit it to its full potential."

Musinaut has created software for the end-user (a downloadable MXP4 Player for the Mac (and the PC, if you're interested), and conversely, professional-level software MXP4Creator (also for Mac and PC) for the musician/artist and producers to create MXP4 music files. Both pieces of software require Mac OS X 10.4 or higher running on an Intel Mac with at least 1GB of RAM.

MXP4Creator has a suggested retail price of US$499. When used with sequencing tools, you can import files into the software and can export files in a compressed format or in uncompressed format.

The MXP4Creator allows musicians to explore infinite and unconventional ways to arrange and present compositions in diverse styles, Thomson says. With the MXP4Player, playback can occur automatically or interactively. Music fans can personalize their listening experience by configuring music selections to fit their own mood, or they can select “auto mode” to let the technology choose for them, Thomson adds. When the various skins of a track are dynamically remixed, the listener experiences an element of surprise akin to a live performance.

"MXP4 transitions from one piece of music to another seamlessly," Thomson says. "There's no interruption in the transition. Music can now have element of surprise -- different elements each time you listen to a song. I liken it to a live concert where each time a musician plays a song, it's a little bit different."

The MXP4 songs will be available for purchase various online distribution sites. The MXP4Player is available for download here.

So how will all this interact with iPods and iTunes? That is still to be determined.

"We're just now bringing the technology to market," Thomson says. "We're talking to a number of different companies about building infrastructure and partners. We have no announcements yet on how it the MXP4 technology will interact with iTunes, iPods and things of this nature."

Thomson says that MXP4 brings interactivity to music by pushing the envelope by including not just one song per music download, but it includes: an original song; multiple versions of the song (created by the artist or music label) which can be different by genre, style, etc.; graphics to accompany/visually represent each "skin"; and text from musician to music fan (communications, lyrics, upcoming concert dates, etc.)

The introduction of MXP4 coincides with the ever-increasing popularity of digital music -- both from the standpoint of consumer purchasing patterns, as well as the use of digital technologies by artists in multiple musical categories. The following statistics reflect major industry trends:

° Digital music sales now accounts for 15 percent of the global music market. (Source: IFPI Digital Music Report, 2008)

° By 2012, over half of the global music industry revenues will come from digital music. (Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers, 2008)

° Overall digital track sales grew 45% in 2007 to a year-end sales total of 844 million tracks. (Source: Nielsen Soundscan, 2008)

° Through the first three months of 2008, digital track sales increased at a rate of 29 percent over the same period last year. At this rate, digital track sales are on pace to break 1 billion by the end of 2008. (Source: Nielsen Soundscan, 2008)

° Sales of CDs in the US fell by 20 percent from 2006 to 2007. (Source: Nielsen Soundscan, 2008)

“The music industry is looking for new and creative ways to present their artists and increase revenue,” Thomson says. “MXP4 technology now gives artists and the industry a new and innovative way to offer richer musical content to consumers. Currently, recorded music is static and two-dimensional. MXP4 technology makes it far more exciting and dynamic by giving it extra dimensions, enabling artists to be more expressive and providing listeners with a more interesting and interactive experience.”

Over the past few months a number of bands, producers and DJs across the United States and Europe have been beta testing the editing tool, MXP4Creator, and many are already embracing it. For example, electro-pop artist songwriter Margaux has completed her forthcoming Spookydubois at Corfe Castle album, using MXP4 technology:

“MXP4 technology is such a powerful format and a breath of fresh air for the digital music industry,” Margaux says. "It’s given me the freedom to go beyond musical boundaries and opens up an endless amount of new possibilities. As an artist, songwriting was becoming formulaic and boring, but by using MXP4 technology I can now be surprised by my own music. My forthcoming album is a ‘musical movie’ as MXP4 technology enabled me to tell a story, I could change the atmosphere and style of a song and also add text and photos. The fact that fans can participate in how they listen to the album is also very exciting for me. I can’t imagine making music any other way now.”

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