DotMusic Limited wins rights to .Music domain name extension

The Constantine Roussos (pictured) founded DotMusic Limited will be awarded the rights to the .Music domain name extension by ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers).

Other applicants for .Music included the likes of Google and Amazon and leading domain registries, Donuts, Radix and MMX.

DotMusic’s Founder and CEO tweeted on Friday that the company had emerged as the successful bidder “after more than decade”.

“Excited to announce that after more than a decade, DotMusic has prevailed and will be the .MUSIC registry,” said Roussos.

According to DotMusic, the .Music domain extension will be the first to be launched with music-tailored policies to protect creators’ rights.

The expected launch for .Music is 2020.

“The .Music registry will work closely with the global music community and the .Music Governance Board to prepare for the safe, responsible and prudent launch of .Music”, said the company in a statement today.



“This is a new digital era for the global music community,.”

Constantine Roussos

“This is a new digital era for the global music community,” said Roussos.

“For the first time in Internet history, music community members will be able to register their own exclusive, verified, and trusted .Music domain name.”

IFPI congratulates DotMusic on the success of its application to manage the .Music domain.”

Frances Moore, IFPI

Frances Moore, Chief Executive of global recording industry body IFPI, said: “IFPI congratulates DotMusic on the success of its application to manage the .Music domain.

“As the online marketplace around the world continues to evolve, so too do the challenges the music community faces in preventing music from being made available illegally and ensuring fans have access to licensed services.

“We welcome DotMusic’s commitments to safeguard .Music domains against unlawful uses and we look forward to working closely with the DotMusic team in implementing those commitments.”

Gadi Oron, Director General of the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC), added: “As the world’s largest global network for creators, with member societies in over 120 countries, CISAC welcomes the .Music domain and the opportunities it can create to develop a stronger and more responsible environment for licensed music.”

Benoît Machuel, the General Secretary of the International Federation of Musicians said: “A vetted .MUSIC domain is fully in line with our Federation’s goal to protect and further the economic, social and artistic interests of musicians globally,”

Brad Buckles, Chief Content Protection Officer, Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), said: “We congratulate the DotMusic team on their successful application.

“Since the beginning, our hope was that this process would yield a .Music domain where proper and effective safeguards would protect the rights of music creators globally and allow them control over their work.

“We look forward to working with DotMusic on implementing this vision to ensure that the internet ecosystem is a safe, vibrant, and innovative place where legitimate music creation, access, and distribution can thrive.”

“We welcome the launch of the .Music domain that addresses the concerns and needs of the music community.”

Dr. Richard James Burgess, A2IM

Dr. Richard James Burgess, President and CEO, American Association of Independent Music (A2IM) added: “A2IM’s mission to promote growth, awareness and equality of opportunity for independent music through advocacy, education and community, is aligned with .Music’s principles.

“We welcome the launch of the .Music domain that addresses the concerns and needs of the music community.”

Bart Herbison, Executive Director, NSAI said: “Congratulations to DotMusic for being chosen as the winning applicant for the .Music Internet domain registry.

“It is very important to have a domain where music can be commerced with built-in safeguards, such as protections against piracy, infringement and cybersquatting.”

“Our industry has waited a long time for this to materialize and we look forward to working together to build an unparalleled global music domain.”

Pierre Mossiat, President, Independent Music Publishers International Forum (IMPF) added: “IMPF is really pleased for all the team at DotMusic for having prevailed.

“We are delighted that the .Music domain name extension will afford all of us – music publishers, composers, songwriters and our associations – the opportunity to ensure that we can claim and protect our names against cybersquatters.

“It has been a long journey but it is great to see the international music community validated.”Music Business Worldwide

Related Posts