Controversial Megaupload to Launch Topspin, Bandcamp Direct-to-Fan Competitor

Breaking a 10 year silence with a Torrentfreak op-ed, controversial Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom took on his many critics along with Universal Music for yanking his promo video from YouTube (“They decided to stop us at all costs... They have nothing and they don't even care."). But buried in his lengthy diatribe were also specifics of two previously unheard of services that Magaupload is launching that will compete with Topspin, Bandcamp and others in the direct-to-fan music space.

“UMG knows that we are going to compete with them via our own music venture called Megabox.com, a site that will soon allow artists to sell their creations direct to consumers and allowing artists to keep 90% of earnings."

“We have a solution called the Megakey that will allow artists to earn income from users who download music for free. Yes that's right, we will pay artists even for free downloads. The Megakey business model has been tested with over a million users and it works"

“You can expect several Megabox announcements next year including exclusive deals with artists who are eager to depart from outdated business models."

Megabox has already launched in beta, but it is unclear whether or not artists will want to be involved with such a controversial company. But rather than comparing his new services to direct-to-fan competitors, he contrats it to his view of major labels:

“You need to understand that some labels are run by arrogant and outdated dinosaurs who have been in business for 1000 years. These guys think an iPad is a facial treatment, the Internet is the devil, and wired phones are still hip. They are in denial about the new realities and opportunities. They don't understand that the rip-off days are over."

Would you sell your music via Megauplaod?